World Happiness Report 2026, released Thursday, ranks countries based on survey data of self-reported life satisfaction. Canada, once in the Top 10, has fallen to 25th, extending a decade-long decline. The report also links heavy social media use to a marked drop in well-being among young people, particularly among teenage girls.

McGill University has an expert who can comment on this topic:

Christopher Barrington-Leigh is a Professor in the Department of Equity, Ethics and Policy and the Bieler School of Environment. He studies what makes life fulfilling, using happiness surveys to explore how social connections and community life compare to material wealth in shaping well-being.

chris.barrington-leigh [at] mcgill.ca (English)