Is This Why Americans Are So Unhappy?

0:00 Do Your Eating Buddies Make You Happy?
3:30 The Other Theory

"Comparison may be the thief of joy, but not if you’re from Finland.

Despite sharing a border with an at-war Russia and receiving limited winter sunlight, the Nordic nation has been ranked the world’s happiest country for the eighth year in a row. Americans, meanwhile, seem to get more unhappy with each passing year."*

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[BigSnipp]

If I stopped eating meals where I'm alone, I would eat a couple of times per year.

[rossderer]

Americans are unhappy because work doesn't afford anything but the cost of going back to work.

[RangerDanger-hj]

Government makes more people unhappy than any other cause.

[luisdavidllense]

I agree. People should talk with each other more, face to face. More RL gatherings are needed.

[Finalboss]

Eating alone is better than being with toxic people.

[RainbowYak]

Neither technology nor eating alone are responsible for America's steady decline in happiness. If you actually want to understand what makes people happy, look at the report. It's right there. Not only has Finland been ranked the happiest country on Earth in 2025, it's now won this first spot for about 8 years in a row. Last time I checked, Finnish people used technology/social media just as much as Americans and you'll hardly find a more introverted person on this planet than an average Finnish guy. So, what's the difference? First of all, Finland isn't just happier than the US, it is - according to various reports - also significantly more free and more democratically organized. This is unrelated to Trump; it was already true long before him. Perhaps even more importantly, though, Finnish society values solidarity. By stark contrast, the US is the end product of 45 years of continuous, systematic de-solidarization. It is a maximally individualized country where all you're left with is the law of the jungle - survival of the strongest, richest, most powerful. Life is viewed as one big struggle and if you lose or you're too weak, that's your problem. Turns out toxic cultures like this don't make humans very happy. People want to feel connected to others even if they're introverts. And this goes way beyond social media or eating alone. Did you know Finland doesn't have any homeless people whatsoever? Americans may think homelessness is a simple fact of life. Meanwhile, Finland has already solved the problem. In Finland, you are guaranteed the right to an adequate dwelling. No one is forced to sleep in their car or under a bridge. However, this only works because Finnish society values solidarity so highly. And this doesn't just affect social welfare. A majority of Americans (even progressives) no longer support NATO. In Europe, we still cherish it. That's because we understand the power of solidarity and friendship. NATO is built on the principle that good friends are meant to help each other in times of need. By abandoning Ukraine and its Western European allies, the US is also in the process of abandoning its friendships - even the very concept of friendship. I believe this will one day turn out to be a fatal mistake. The US is doubtlessly a big and powerful country but sometimes, even the toughest guy on the block is confronted with a problem he can't solve alone. And if that day ever comes and all of America's former friends refuse to come to aid, the US will have no one to blame but itself. This is what uncompromising individualism leads to: a world of unhappiness.

[Russellviews]

I think these Nordic nations are mostly just happy to be reporting they are happy and that makes them happy.

[ghstcat]

It's definitely nothing to do with progressive policies like open borders, a soft on crime agenda, and wasteful spending. Those were great ideas 😹

[mandb]

I eat alone and have zero friends. I have never been happier.

[carmenvelez]

They live to work instead of working to live.

[FrogGiggin]

Hours and workload increasing at 2.5x, pay and benefits increasing at 1x. It’s that simple. Makes emergencies, raising a family, health crisis, devastating and a lethal blow to most.

[hunternedib]

We love you, Ben!
We are so glad you made it through the TYT layoffs.

[dewilew]

Fair, but I eat alone because of a sense of deeply rooted shame and an eating disorder, not because I don’t have anyone to eat with.

Maybe I should get help. 😔

[TR-mmqg]

Being an introvert, I'd rather eat by myself.

[yetanotherrandomviewer]

A lot of spam bot and trolls in the comment section.

[deanjackson]

Eating alone isn’t the problem, Working long Hours is pretty much it.. don’t matter what party both sides can agree on that..

[leoKC]

The study said Americans were ranked 24th and I don't feel this was addressed in this video. Every other country has iPhones too. We're ranked so low because life's extremely difficult for people in America now and they don't share meals because they simply can't anymore that much. Either parent has to be at work while the other stays home to keep a home and food on the table.

[chriss-nfbd]

US 24th in happiness? I wouldn't have given it that high of a score. Comes down the breakup of the family. All it takes is that one member to die or to be rejected for the glue that brought them together is gone. Then there is social media. It divides us on all levels. From disagreements to what do you talk about when you are together. Because while on social media it all has been said? further taking the reasons why we got together and casting them aside. Even holidays are a season to be disappointed. Social media has conditioned us to the thought process of what is in it for me. Leaving many feeling left out. When I would cook for friends and family. they would come eat and leave without offering to help clean up or stay to watch sports or a movie. Or as something as simple as playing cards. So I stopped that all together. The Bar is always open if I need someone to break the quietness, even on holidays.

[brentmcwilliams]

"You might as well expect a river to run backwards as to expect a man to be satisfied with less than he once had" - Chief Joseph ✌️

[stlfatman]

Working consumes way too much of our lives, and getting our mental health treated costs more than we make in a month.