New UN research challenges the traditional “U-shaped” happiness curve, revealing a continuous increase in life satisfaction with age and a worsening mental health crisis among young people.
The study, conducted in six English-speaking countries, shows a sharp decline in young people’s well-being, particularly among young women. Researchers Jean Twenge and David Blanchflower attribute this trend to increased Internet and smartphone use. Social media, cyberbullying, and body-shaming are key factors contributing to growing distress.
Blanchflower states, “Young people have become isolated. It’s not so much that people are on their phones as what they don’t do. They don’t go out as much, they don’t play with friends, they don’t talk to others, they don’t have sex.” This behavioral shift signals profound changes in social interaction and emotional well-being.
The crisis is further linked to socio-economic pressures, including job insecurity, generational inequality, and the climate crisis. Many young individuals are leaving the workforce due to mental health challenges, exacerbating economic instability.
In response, the UN has launched further investigations to determine whether this phenomenon is global. The potential consequences include declining academic performance and reduced economic productivity. Psychologists and economists must reconsider outdated assumptions about happiness, as the traditional view of youth as the “happiest phase of life” no longer aligns with modern realities.
