Why Did the Netherlands Fall in Happiness Rankings (and What Does Social Media Have to Do With It)?

If you are a resident of the Netherlands, you probably have an immense appreciation for the work-life balance, safe streets, and relatively high standards of living. All other things considered, you might say it is still a pretty happy place to call home, so it must come as a surprise to know that the Dutch have had a minor drop according to their happiness rankings this year as per the most recent World Happiness Report, becoming less happy people.

The Netherlands has recently slipped [just] 2 points, standing at #7 worldwide. The Dutch respondents rated their lives 7.2 out of 10 on average, a small, noticeable drop from last year’s average of 7.3.

So what is giving the national mood this downturn? Although the report does not specify any particular issue in the case of the Netherlands, it highlights a significant trend currently affecting many developed countries: a significant decline in well-being, particularly among younger generations.

The Generational Happiness Gap

Turns tame the immensity of the young population’s life-affirming intentions have been articulated only through brute logic. So bad have things gotten in Western Europe and Anglo-America at large that the young are perceived as markedly less happy people than the older generation. Conversely, young people in nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are now among the least happy people on Earth. Finland ranked first, now on its ninth World Happiness Report generation. Iceland and Denmark followed; Costa Rica surprisingly completed the top five.

Social Media Culprits?

A discussion about happiness and happy people tends to focus on youth and their social media use; the report blamed young people’s increased social media use as a significant contributor to their declining happiness.

But it’s not a clear-cut issue. Actually, as Oxford’s Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, also one of the creators of the research, says, its impact depends very much on how you use it. This means that heavy use and endless doomscrolling on social media are directly linked to much lower well-being. However, on the flip side, being completely disconnected from social media can lead people to miss out on certain positive, community-building effects.

The take-away? We need to put the “social” back into social media and make time to build connections.

Netherlands Reaction: Age Limitation?

The Netherlands has taken the World Happiness Report’s findings very seriously. The national debate over imposing an age limit, one under 15, for social media use is growing. One might think there will be a loud “No” from the public; studies show evidence to the contrary. In fact, a substantial part of the Dutch population, 16 to 17, agrees with the idea: sixty percent even support the age-related restrictions. For expats, finding the right environment for your kids is tough in a new country. AskZein offers trusted support specifically for expat families, helping you navigate childcare and other options with confidence.

The World Happiness Report uses data from 136 countries over three years to assess how different aspects of our lives- income, life expectancy, freedom, and social support- influence our individual well-being. Although the country’s consistent ranking as the seventh-happiest place to live is praiseworthy, the report may prompt us to talk to people more and occasionally put our phones aside.