Global Happiness Rises, But Western Teens Fall Behind

0:00Global happiness is on the rise. The latest World Happiness Report shows life satisfaction improving in most countries over the past two decades. Eastern Europe is catching up fast, and developing nations are making steady gains, even after pandemics and economic shocks. Finland still tops the list, with other Nordic countries close behind, thanks to wealth, trust, and solid systems. But here's the twist, Western teenagers are sliding backward. In places like Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and much of Western Europe, young people are way less happy than past generations at their age. These are some of the richest, safest spots on earth, yet youth well-being ranks near the bottom globally. Social media gets a lot of blame, and data backs it up somewhat. Teens glued to screens for seven hours or more a day. Report much lower satisfaction, hitting girls hardest in the West. Light users fare best. Still is not the full picture. Latin American youth log heavy time online, but stay pretty content, same in parts of

1:03the Middle East. Dig deeper, and social media just amps up what's already there. Real-world connections matter way more like feeling part of a school crew, which beats screen limits hands down. Face-to-face chats boost mood, while endless scrolling on influencers drags it down. This uneven trend hits home in Australia, where overall we're doing great but our kids aren't. Policy makers should prioritize offline bonds, school communities, and mental health over quick vans. It's a call to rebuild what grounds us before the digital world takes over completely. I'm Corey with The Story, that's your Adelaide News today update, AI-powered and always on.