In many countries, young people today enjoy greater financial security, better healthcare, and longer life expectancy than previous generations. Despite these improvements, many report lower levels of happiness. This trend is primarily driven by constant social comparison, and I believe it can be effectively addressed by promoting healthier attitudes towards success and greater awareness of mental well-being.
One of the main reasons why many young people are less happy is that they constantly compare themselves with others through social media. Although these platforms provide entertainment and information, they also expose users to carefully selected images of success, wealth, and luxury. As a result, many begin measuring their own achievements against unrealistic standards, even when they are leading comfortable lives. Consider, for example, a university student with supportive parents, good health, and promising career prospects. After spending hours scrolling through posts featuring expensive holidays, luxury cars, and impressive careers, the student may begin to feel unsuccessful despite having a bright future ahead. Consequently, excessive social comparison often replaces contentment with dissatisfaction, gradually reducing young people’s overall happiness.
To address this issue, society should encourage young people to develop a healthier relationship with success and social media. Schools and universities can play a vital role by introducing lessons on digital literacy, emotional well-being, and responsible social media use. Such programmes can help students understand that online content often reflects only the most attractive moments of people’s lives rather than reality. For instance, if young people learn to evaluate social media more critically while spending more time on hobbies, sports, and face-to-face relationships, they are less likely to compare themselves with others constantly. This would help them develop greater self-confidence and achieve a more balanced and satisfying lifestyle.
In conclusion, although young people today are wealthier, healthier, and expected to live longer than ever before, constant comparison with unrealistic lifestyles has reduced their happiness. Therefore, helping them develop healthier perspectives on success and social media is an effective way to improve their overall well-being.