Gallup report examines complex link between social media and wellbeing

A new report titled “State of the World’s Emotional Health 2026,” released by Gallup in partnership with the World Health Summit, suggests the relationship between social media use and mental health is more nuanced than previously thought. Based on surveys across 97 countries, the data indicates that social media use is only modestly associated with certain favorable wellbeing outcomes, and the connection is not a simple linear equation where increased time spent on platforms automatically results in more harm.

While some research, particularly involving North American adolescents, shows small associations between social media and higher rates of anxiety or depression, it also identifies connections to improved social wellbeing. This complexity arrives as Meta reports that over 3.56 billion people use its platforms daily.

In response to these digital environments, some users are shifting from “doomscrolling”—the habit of consuming negative or rage-inducing content—toward “bloomscrolling.” This practice involves the intentional use of social media to seek out positive, educational, or uplifting content, such as tutorials and personal growth creators, rather than opting for total digital abstinence.