Experts Urge Action Following Report Highlighting "Midlife Crisis" Among Gen Z

Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Head of the Wellbeing Research Centre and Lead Editor of the Study, Expresses Concern Over "Alarming Declines" in Youth Happiness, Particularly in North America and Western Europe

The recent release of the World Happiness Report has sparked concerns about the well-being of Generation Z, as findings suggest they are experiencing a decline in happiness compared to older generations. The report revealed that the United States has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries, landing in 23rd place. Of particular concern is the ranking of young people under the age of 30, who now rank 62nd out of 143 countries for happiness, while adults aged 60 and above are ranked 10th.

Healthcare experts, including America's top surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy, have raised alarms about these findings, attributing the decline in happiness among young people to the influence of social media. Dr. Murthy highlights the detrimental effects of excessive social media usage on mental health, emphasizing the need for action to address this growing concern.

The report's revelations about the declining happiness of Generation Z underscore the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being initiatives, particularly in the face of mounting social and technological pressures. As society grapples with the implications of these findings, there is a pressing need for collective action to support the mental health and happiness of younger generations.

Dr. Vivek Murthy has drawn a striking analogy, likening the use of social media by children to administering unproven medicine. In an interview with The Guardian, he emphasized the lack of concrete evidence regarding the safety of social media platforms for young users. Dr. Murthy expressed concern over the absence of government regulation in this area, describing it as "insane."

His remarks underscore the urgent need for greater oversight and regulation of social media platforms, particularly concerning their impact on the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. As societal awareness grows regarding the potential risks associated with excessive social media usage, there is increasing pressure on policymakers to take decisive action to safeguard the health and happiness of younger generations.

Dr. Murthy highlighted concerning trends regarding social media usage among adolescents in the US, noting that they spend nearly five hours per day on these platforms. Furthermore, a significant portion of adolescents are staying up until midnight on weeknights, engrossed in their devices. In light of these findings, he emphasized the urgent need for legislative action to mitigate the harms of social media on young people.

Dr. Murthy proposed immediate legislation to address these issues, advocating for measures that would limit or eliminate certain features of social media platforms. Specifically, he suggested restrictions on features such as like buttons and infinite scrolling, which have been associated with addictive behaviors and negative impacts on mental health.

By implementing such legislation, Dr. Murthy aims to reduce the harmful effects of social media on adolescents and promote healthier digital habits among young people. This proactive approach reflects a growing recognition of the need to regulate technology to protect the well-being of future generations.

The release of the World Happiness Report has sparked concern among healthcare experts, with findings indicating that Generation Z is experiencing a decline in happiness compared to older generations. The report revealed that the United States has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries, landing in 23rd place. Of particular concern is the ranking of young people under the age of 30, who now rank 62nd out of 143 countries for happiness, while adults aged 60 and above are ranked 10th.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, America's top surgeon general, has attributed this decline in happiness among young people to the pervasive influence of social media. He likened allowing children to use social media to administering unproven medicine, emphasizing the lack of regulation and potential risks associated with its use.

Highlighting the concerning trends in social media usage among adolescents, Dr. Murthy called for immediate legislative action to mitigate the harms. He proposed measures to limit or eliminate features such as like buttons and infinite scrolling, which have been associated with addictive behaviors and negative impacts on mental health.

The World Happiness Report, coordinated by Oxford University's Wellbeing Research Centre, Gallup, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, has historically shown that younger people were happier than their elders. However, a shift occurred in 2017, and by 2024, the US has fallen out of the top 20 list of happiest nations. Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of the Wellbeing Research Centre, expressed concern over "disconcerting drops in youth happiness, especially in North America and Western Europe," as indicated by the report.

"To think that in some parts of the world children are already experiencing the equivalent of a midlife crisis, demands immediate policy action," he added.

Source: ndtv‍