Social media users worldwide report modestly better daily emotional health than nonusers, yet spending more than two hours a day is associated with more negative emotions and, in high-income countries, lower life evaluations, according to Gallup’s State of the World’s Emotional Health 2026 report.
Released with the World Health Summit and based on 2026 World Poll data from adults aged 15 and older in 97 countries, the analysis finds a median of 81% of people used social media in the past seven days (rising to 95% among those 15–29). Users were more likely than nonusers to report enjoyment (75% vs. 61%) and less likely to report sadness (20% vs. 33%) or loneliness (17% vs. 29%). These differences persist, though smaller, after controls for age, gender, income, education, health, and employment.
The relationship with time spent is more complicated and not linear. Moderate use is linked to better outcomes than either low or high use. High users (two or more hours daily) report higher rates of anger, loneliness, sadness, stress, and worry, and are less likely to feel treated with respect. Globally, life evaluations do not differ significantly between high and moderate users. In high-income countries such as the United States, however, high use is associated with lower life evaluations; no significant negative effect appears in other countries. Negative emotional costs of heavy use are more consistent across income groups.
Younger adults drive much of the heavy use: 52% of users aged 15–29 spend at least two hours a day, versus 33% of those 30–49 and 23% of those 50 and older. Nearly two-thirds of all users spend less than two hours daily, while a median of 19% of the youngest users report five or more hours.
Country-level patterns vary widely, and social media accounts for little of the variation in wellbeing in most places. The report notes that negative emotions remain elevated globally compared with levels from a decade or two ago, even as many positive experiences hold relatively steady. Gallup’s first global look at social media and emotional health underscores that context—how much time people spend, their age, and where they live—matters more than simple use versus nonuse.
Younger adults drive much of the heavy use: 52% of users aged 15–29 spend at least two hours a day, versus 33% of those 30–49 and 23% of those 50 and older. Nearly two-thirds of all users spend less than two hours daily, while a median of 19% of the youngest users report five or more hours.
Country-level patterns vary widely, and social media accounts for little of the variation in wellbeing in most places. The report notes that negative emotions remain elevated globally compared with levels from a decade or two ago, even as many positive experiences hold relatively steady. Gallup’s first global look at social media and emotional health underscores that context—how much time people spend, their age, and where they live—matters more than simple use versus nonuse.