41% of youth 15-24 feel chronically lonely in the age of 5 billion internet users.
+3h/day on social media = 47% higher risk of depression in youth.
The effect is strongest in middle-income countries where mental health systems are precarious.
Finland: 1h52min social media vs 3h37min in Brazil. 9th year as happiest country.
Every like triggers dopamine. Same mechanism as slot machines. It's design, not weakness.
Human attention span dropped from 12 to 8.25 seconds. Less than a goldfish.
Ban push notifications for under-16s, ban algorithmic feeds for minors, mandatory digital literacy.
Complete data from the World Happiness Report 2026