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Analysis and Health

Does using the internet make us happier or sadder?

A study of more than 2 million people in 168 countries suggests that having access to the internet is linked to higher life satisfaction, but many questions remain unanswered

By Clare Wilson

13 May 2024

We still don’t know the potential well-being effects of social media specifically or how they could vary among people of different ages

Galina Zhigalova/Getty Images

Growing access to the internet is linked with better well-being around the world, a large study has concluded. The finding seems to be at odds with concerns that smartphones have led to a tsunami of mental health problems. So, where does the truth lie?

While concerns over excessive use of phones, computers and other devices may seem like a modern phenomenon, in fact they echo similar fears over past tech trends, such as that people…

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