Barcelona, A recent study has found that teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of problematic social media use. The study, published in the World Happiness Report 2026, examined data from over 330,000 young people in 43 countries and found that higher levels of problematic social media use are associated with poorer well-being.
The study found that teenagers who report more problematic use tend to experience more psychological complaints, such as feeling low, nervous, irritable, or having difficulty sleeping. They also have lower life satisfaction, a measure of how positively they evaluate their lives as a whole.
The study's findings suggest that socioeconomic background plays a significant role in shaping the risks and opportunities that young people experience as a result of online environments. Teenagers from less advantaged backgrounds tend to be more vulnerable to the negative consequences of problematic social media use than their more advantaged peers.
The study also found that the link between problematic social media use and poor adolescent well-being became stronger between 2018 and 2022, possibly reflecting the growing role of digital technologies in young people's daily lives, particularly during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The study's results highlight the need for policies that are not only effective but also equitable, ensuring that interventions reach those adolescents who are most vulnerable to digital risks.
