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"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week, Tanya discusses International Day of Happiness and how to find a happy balance in world infiltrated by social media.
By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea
When asked what we want to be, the natural answer often isn’t an occupation, but a feeling: happy. International Day of Happiness, which falls on 20 March each year, recognises that happiness and well-being are key universal human goals.
Research will suggest that with happiness comes greater motivation, productivity, compassion, patience and problem-solving, leading to prosperity in our homes, workplaces and communities. But in the digital age and with our rising use of technology, sometimes finding that sought-after happy balance is harder than you might think.
Diving into this complexity, the 2026 International Day of Happiness theme is ‘social media and happiness’. This is particularly timely here in Australia, where a social media ban for users under 16 has been in place for three months, and the debate around social media’s influence on people’s wellbeing has been raging for longer still.
To me, building a positive, balanced relationship with social media means staying true to its original purpose: human connection. Just as technology should support, not replace our ability to think, social media should support, not replace our ability to connect. As the associate editor of the World Happiness Report said, ‘human happiness is driven by our relationships with others.’
Real people are behind the posts you see. Make your comments count. Be thoughtful in what you share. Remember that scrolling and reacting aren’t substitutes for talking to someone, engaging in a dialogue, digging deeper into their life and showing that you care.
In a time when our feeds are filled with negative news, it’s no wonder that last year’s World Happiness Report found that we underestimate the kindness of our communities. But social media can be part of the solution if we use it to follow positive accounts, share uplifting stories, join supportive online communities and truly connect with those we care about.
I argue that the key to happiness is not only connecting with others both online and offline but also connecting with ourselves and the environment we call home. Take the time to set your phone aside and do something for you: walk, meditate, journal, garden, cook, dance, sing, create, breathe, pause and live. You’ll be happier for it, and like a viral social media post, happiness spreads.
