According to the New York Times Article, Led by Its Youth, U.S. Sinks in World Happiness Report by Sopan Deb, the latest World Happiness Report for 2024 has been alarming, especially for Americans, particularly those under 30, who have seen a significant decline in happiness levels over the past decade. This year marks the first time the United States dropped out of the Top 20 in the rankings, highlighting a crisis among its youth. Factors contributing to this decline include disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, social media pressures, and anxiety over global issues like climate change and political polarization. While Finland keeps its title as the happiest country, the report underscores the need for attention to mental health and social well-being, emphasizing the importance of addressing causes of unhappiness among younger generations. The findings prompt a call for action to create environments conducive to greater happiness and fulfillment, particularly for the youth.

This article caught my eye because it’s not a standard political or news article that I see very often. I’m Scandinavian, half Norwegian and half Finnish to be more accurate, so I am well aware of the World Happiness Report. I’ve always thought it was interesting to see where the Scandinavian countries are ranked vs the US, especially because I get to experience the difference in their society’s. There is a greater emphasis placed on work-life balance there, and the culture is more collaborative and equal. One of the things mentioned in the article that acts as a stress-inducer for young people is climate change. I don’t see this as a problem in Scandinavia because everyone is actively combating climate change and there’s a lot more social solidarity overall.

I think that the audience is Americans of all ages, although mainly the younger generation. It aims to educate why America is getting ranked so low on the happiness index. By addressing these specific reasons, hopefully people will know what needs to be done. Covid and its destructive wake, one of the main factors, will eventually fade out. However, social media and anxiety surrounding global issues is more prevalent and needs to be dealt with.