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January 10, 2025
David Blanchflower, an economist and leading expert on happiness, has raised alarm over a troubling trend: a significant decline in the well-being of young people globally. Known for his research on how happiness fluctuates throughout life, Blanchflower’s work has long centered around the U-shaped curve of well-being—a pattern observed across decades of studies, showing that people are happiest in youth and old age, with the lowest point occurring in middle age. However, recent findings point to a disturbing shift in this long-established pattern.
Blanchflower, the Bruce V. Rauner 1978 Professor of Economics, has spent over two decades studying happiness and well-being. His research, which includes over 30 published papers, has consistently shown that while happiness dips in middle age, it tends to rise again as people enter their senior years. This U-shaped curve has been confirmed by hundreds of other researchers worldwide. But recent data suggest a drastic change in the experiences of younger generations.
Since around 2013, young people, particularly young women, have been reporting lower levels of happiness and well-being. Blanchflower attributes this shift primarily to the pervasive influence of smartphones and social media. The widespread use of these technologies, beginning with the release of the iPhone in 2007, has transformed social behaviors, especially among children and teenagers.
“Smartphones have replaced face-to-face interactions that are critical for developing emotional and social intelligence,” Blanchflower says. “The time spent on these devices is time not spent interacting with others, which is essential for mental and social well-being.”
The consequences of this shift are compounded by the rise of bullying and cyberbullying, which Blanchflower believes is tied to the growing dependence on social media. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports his concerns, revealing that increased social media use correlates with a higher risk of being bullied, particularly among high school students.
Blanchflower’s own research underscores the long-term effects of childhood trauma, including bullying, on adult well-being. He warns that cyberbullying, much like traditional bullying, has the potential to cause lasting harm to mental health, educational outcomes, and even earning potential.
Despite initially believing that major events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis were responsible for the decline in youth happiness, Blanchflower and his colleagues now see the pandemic as only exacerbating a trend that had already been in motion. Their analysis of global data, including surveys from the U.S., U.K., and Europe, has shown that while these events created short-term disruptions, the overall trend in declining youth well-being predates them.
This decline in happiness among young people has been observed in numerous countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and several European nations. As part of his ongoing research, Blanchflower has been collaborating with the United Nations to study international mental health trends, with a focus on the increasing challenges faced by the younger, internet-connected generation.
In response to these concerns, some countries and schools are already taking action. Australia, for instance, has banned access to social media for children under 16, while various educational institutions are limiting smartphone use among students to promote healthier social development.
Blanchflower emphasizes the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent a “lost generation.” To that end, he is organizing a major conference in October, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report Office. The symposium, set to take place at Dartmouth College, will bring together mental health experts, policymakers, and education leaders to explore solutions for reversing the youth well-being crisis.
“There’s growing consensus about the decline in youth well-being,” says Blanchflower. “What remains to be debated is the cause, the extent of the issue, and how best to address it. This conference will provide a platform for experts from around the world to share their findings and strategies for tackling this crisis.”
As the global community begins to reckon with the implications of this alarming trend, the focus now turns to identifying solutions and mitigating the harmful effects of digital technology on young people’s mental health.
For further reading:
- David G. Blanchflower et al., The Adult Consequences on Well-being of Abuse and Neglect in Childhood, International Journal of Wellbeing (2024).
- David G. Blanchflower et al., Were COVID and the Great Recession Well-being Reducing?, PLOS ONE (2024).
