Economist David Blanchflower, a leading researcher in happiness studies, has observed a concerning trend: the well-being of young people is on the decline.
For over two decades, Blanchflower has analyzed happiness patterns over the course of a person’s life, establishing a U-shaped curve that typically shows a fall in happiness during middle age, accompanied by an increase in youth and later life.
Shift in Happiness Trends
Recently, Blanchflower and his research team have detected a significant alteration in this longstanding pattern.
The anticipated rise in happiness for younger generations, represented by the left side of the U-shaped graph, has stalled.
This decrease in youthful happiness appears to be linked to the widespread use of smartphones and social media, which have disrupted traditional social interactions vital for maintaining emotional well-being.
Signs of this troubling trend began to surface more than ten years ago.
Blanchflower notes that this previously reliable trend in social science is now shifting.
By around 2013, the U-shaped curve that illustrates happiness began to flatten, indicating a sharp decline, particularly among young people, with a noticeable effect on young women.
Impact of Technology on Youth
Since the introduction of the first iPhone in 2007, smartphones have dramatically altered how young people engage with one another.
Blanchflower highlights that the rise in smartphone use has corresponded with a decline in face-to-face interactions, which are essential for developing social and emotional skills.
Additionally, research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrates a correlation between increased social media usage and a rise in bullying.
Initially, researchers theorized that the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn of 2008 might have significantly impacted youth happiness.
However, in-depth analyses of various surveys reveal that these events resulted in only temporary fluctuations, obscuring a deeper and more persistent decline in the well-being of young people.
Global Response and Future Actions
This alarming trend has been observed across multiple countries, including the U.K., U.S., Canada, Australia, and several European nations.
Currently, Blanchflower is working alongside the United Nations to investigate global mental health trends among youth.
In light of these findings, some educational institutions have begun to limit smartphone access for students.
Australia has even implemented legislation prohibiting social media use for children under 16.
Blanchflower emphasizes the urgency of identifying the underlying causes of this downward trend to develop effective interventions.
He is organizing a conference with UN officials and mental health experts to address this ongoing crisis and explore potential solutions, highlighting the critical need to prevent a lost generation.
“`htmlStudy Details:
- Title: Were COVID and the Great Recession well-being reducing?
- Authors: David G. Blanchflower et al.
- Journal: PLOS ONE
- Publication Date: 2024
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305347