Oxford research links heavy social media
- Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre said in the World Happiness Report 2026 that heavy social media use is linked to lower wellbeing among young people, with the sharpest declines in English-speaking countries and Western Europe. - Gallup World Poll data show life evaluations among under-25s in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand fell by almost one point on a 0-10 scale over the past decade. - A separate April 25 webinar hosted by The Hindu said screen use above six hours a day can raise stress, anxiety and sleep problems, adding urgency for families and schools. (thehindu.com)
Heavy social media use is linked to lower wellbeing among young people, according to Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in the World Happiness Report 2026. (ox.ac.uk) The report, published March 19, said the biggest drops in youth wellbeing showed up in English-speaking countries and Western Europe, with girls affected most in several datasets. (ox.ac.uk) (worldhappiness.report) Oxford said Gallup World Poll data show life evaluations among people under 25 in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand fell by almost one point on a 0-10 scale over the past decade. (ox.ac.uk) The basic finding is not that every minute online is harmful. Oxford said young people who use social media for less than one hour a day report the highest wellbeing, above even non-users. (ox.ac.uk) That makes the debate less about screens in the abstract and more about dose, platform, age and use pattern. The report said outcomes vary by platform, by gender and by socioeconomic status. (ox.ac.uk) (wellbeing.hmc.ox.ac.uk) Oxford also tied the research to a policy moment. Its March 19 release said governments are weighing stronger online protections for under-16s as evidence on adolescent wellbeing accumulates. (ox.ac.uk) A separate webinar hosted by The Hindu on April 25 added a more practical threshold: average screen use above six hours a day is considered excessive and can lead to stress, anxiety, sleep disruption and reduced social interaction. (thehindu.com) At that event, psychiatrist Maria Antony of Sri Mamallan Hospital and psychology professor Ashwini Tadpatrikar of Vidyashilp University said problematic use shows up as loss of control, compulsive checking and harm to mental, physical and social wellbeing. (thehindu.com) Their advice was incremental, not punitive: regular breaks, physical activity, family engagement, digital fasting and gradual limits for children instead of abruptly removing devices. (thehindu.com) Oxford’s own summary lands in a similar place. Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, the centre’s director, said the evidence points to putting the “social” back into social media rather than treating all use as the same. (ox.ac.uk)
