Experts: Social media use, not just screen time, harms sleep before bed

Scrolling through your phone before bed may disrupt your sleep more than you realize, according to experts. The common advice to avoid screens at night might miss the mark. The real issue could be how social media is used, not just the screen time itself.

Sleep deprivation is a major public health concern, especially for young adults and teenagers. Most adolescents fail to get the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep, and nearly two-thirds of young adults get less than the required seven to nine hours. This lack of sleep affects more than just tiredness; it's linked to poorer mental health, difficulty regulating emotions, impaired memory, lower academic performance, and an increased risk of chronic illness and early death.

Social media is a daily habit for most young adults, with 84% using at least one platform. Previous research focused on screen time as the primary cause of sleep problems. However, new evidence suggests that the frequency of checking social media and the level of emotional involvement are more significant factors in sleep disruption than the total duration of use.