To help better understand the effects of digitalisation on people’s well-being, the OECD Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE), in collaboration with Cisco, launched the OECD Digital Well-being Hub in 2024 including a global poll to explore how people experience digital technology in their daily lives. This data, collected in February and March 2025, is offering new insights on digital behaviours and perceptions and how this can impact people’s well-being.
At the OECD WISE Centre we have been exploring digital well-being using the core dimensions of the OECD Well-being Framework, including health, social connections, civic engagement, personal safety, and work-life balance, through both subjective and objective indicators and distinguishing between passive digital exposure – such as screen time – and active engagement, including social media communication and online collaboration. We are also considering the purpose of technology use and how risks evolve across different life stages, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of people’s digital well-being.
One digital world, but many different experiences
Patterns in digital engagement are shaped by age, gender and geography. Usage and engagement trends show younger adults leading across most dimensions: social networking is the highest among 18-25-year-olds, with women more active than men – especially in Latin America (Mexico and Brazil).
Remote work peaks among 26-45-year-olds, while internet-connected device use is the strongest among 26-35-year-olds in India, Brazil and Mexico, and lowest in Japan, France and Italy. Generative AI adoption follows a similar trajectory, with 18-35-year-olds driving uptake and emerging economies such as India, Brazil, and South Africa leading, while Germany, France, and Italy remain cautious.
Screen time, however, raise well-being concerns: 38% of respondents report more than 5 hours of daily recreational screen use, climbing to 41% among 18-25-year-olds. Women spend slightly more time than men, and the highest levels are seen in Mexico (50%), Brazil (48%) and South Africa (45%) – well above expert recommendations of under 3 hours for adults.
People’s perceptions of digital technology’s impact differ across generations and regions. Overall, 39% of respondents report that digital tools have strengthened their relationships. This view is most prevalent among adults aged 18-45 and in emerging economies such as India and Brazil. By contrast, the majority of adults aged 56 and above do not share this perspective. Gender differences also emerge – women are 4 percentage points more likely than men to report a positive effect of digital technology on their relationships.
Attitudes toward AI mirror these divides. More than 75% of respondents under 35 view generative AI as useful, with enthusiasm strongest in emerging economies. Trust and ethical confidence decline with age, and among men aged 26-35, with over half expecting AI to have a meaningful impact on their careers and nearly 1 in 5 describing the impact as "very much so" – suggesting that building digital skills is increasingly viewed as a pathway to new opportunities.
These patterns reflect not only differences in access and infrastructure, but also in digital culture and readiness. They underscore the importance of tailoring digital well-being strategies to account for demographic and regional contexts.
Finding balance in a connected world
Recreational screen time stands out as a significant activity for those who participated in the poll, with 38% reporting more than 5 hours of personal use each day. The highest levels are seen among young adults and in Mexico, Brazil, and South Africa. This increased engagement may expose people to greater risks such as screen fatigue, reliance on digital socialising, and vulnerability to a lower level of well-being when coupled with contextual factors like loneliness or low physical activity. Health experts recommend limiting recreational screen time to under 3 hours per day for adults and minimal exposure for children. The data collected appears to support this guidance and shows a negative correlation between time spent on screens that exceeds 2 hours and levels of subjective well-being.
However, lifestyle and socio-economic factors are more predictive of people’s subjective well-being than the time they spend online. Sleep deprivation, financial hardship, and low physical activity emerged as the strongest predictors of poor well-being, amplifying the risks associated with extended digital use.
Employment status, education level, and family context also influence subjective well-being, suggesting that targeted digital literacy, training and education programmes, including for parents, are needed in addition to managing screentime. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the conditions in which people engage with digital technologies.
More research needed to shape healthy digital habits
People’s varied digital engagement experiences highlight the need for more targeted and inclusive approaches to digital well-being. One-size-fits-all solutions are unlikely to address the nuanced realities revealed by people’s experiences. Instead, policies must be contextual, responsive to demographic and socio-economic differences, and designed to protect vulnerable populations while enabling digital innovation. To support this, further research is needed to explore the cognitive and emotional influences behind digital engagement and AI use, and their long-term effects. Time-series data will also be critical to distinguish between temporary disruptions and lasting impacts, and to identify protective factors that can be embedded in digital tools and public interventions. As digital life continues to evolve, fostering healthy digital habits and ensuring a strong understanding of risks will be key.
Read a more in-depth analysis in our two briefs:
Visit the OECD Digital Well-being Hub and tell us about your own digital well-being.
