Nighttime Social Media

Sleep is necessary for basic health and survival. It plays a large role in an individual’s mental, emotional, and physiological welfare and functioning. After years of sleep research focusing on sleep-wake cycles, evidence points to the conclusion that sleep deprivation has detrimental consequences, not only on rodents, but humans as well (Cheng et al., 2015). In the past century, the average amount of time that adults sleep has decreased significantly. Consequently, sleep problems have become an epidemic, taking their toll on the health of adult populations in numerous ways. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) conducted a Gallup Poll in March 2002 in which American lifestyles, sleep habits, and sleep problems were surveyed. The results

However, these positive factors can be highly addictive. As mentioned before, social media can be very competitive and can lead to developing obsession to “win” or just an obsession with social media in general. Addiction and obsession of the internet has been proven to lead to sleep deprivation, which is connected to many mental illnesses. Scientists say depression, anxiety and high stress are all symptoms of sleep deprivation. Lulu Chang writes of University of Pittsburg's research that says, "the social media habits of 1,700 adults between the ages of 19 and 32 and found that those who spent more than an hour a day on social media or tried to fall asleep to their news feed were more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances." The Telegraph explains that those who struggle with sleeping can easily develop mental illness due to increased stress levels and chemicals that are released by the frontal lobe of the brain when it has had a severe lack of sleep. Social media has the ability to significantly impact mental and physical health because of it’s addictive qualities, leading to potential harm of an individual’s well being and to those around

Sleep deprivation and sleep disorders among college students is an area of concern among researchers, because of the relationship between quality sleep and quality of academic performance. The factors that have been shown to affect sleep quality or sleep patterns include staying up late, using social networking, and partying. This research uses a simple, unique survey instrument. A total of fifty college students participated in the study. Results substantiate the hypothesis that social media use is heavy among college students, and that the use of social media will be correlated with less sleep and less effective study habits. Future research may discover ways of helping students develop more balanced approaches to their academic, online, and social lives.

Have you ever gotten lost in the Internet, swallowed by the constant updates on Twitter and Facebook for hours, when you only meant to be on for a few minutes? This is a constant battle in our society and technology changes and our use of it increases. It is becoming a bigger issue every day, and now it affects one of our basics psychological needs: sleep. Though I concede with Brooke Gladstone, author of “The Influencing Machines” that we can adapt to technology as it grows, I still insist that some issues that arise with technology are bigger than Gladstone portrays and we need to find solutions for some of the bigger problems that technology creates, especially when it disturbs a basic psychological need.

Today, most research done on technology’s effect on sleep has been focused on how technology makes sleeping more difficult. Technology can become a distraction and keep your brain active as a result of using it before going to sleep. The National Sleep Foundation even discovered through a poll that “nine of 10 Americans reported

Many do not believe that we have a technology problem in today’s society. But, ninety-five percent of people use technology an hour before they go to sleep (How Technology Affects Sleep). This is an alarming amount of people who use technology before they go to sleep. You do not have to be looking directly at the technology to trigger the pineal gland to stop releasing melatonin (Kim). Many also believe that lack of sleep due to technology does not affect how they do their daily jobs. Seventy-five percent of those over 30 that reported not getting enough sleep said that when they were tired that their sleepiness effected their daily work (Tarkan). For a school age kid ten hours of sleep is needed. Teenagers also need about nine to ten

Social media does not only have a negative effect on the brain of an adolescent, but also the sleep one may receive. Most adolescents send a text message before they go to bed and keep their phone close to their bed or under their bed so they do not miss important messages throughout the night (Lenhart, Ling, Campbell, & Purcell as cited in George, 2014). A survey with over 900 pupils between the ages of 12-15 were asked about how often social media affected their sleep. In the study it was stated that one

Sleep is something that is required by all human beings for survival. This crucial component of our daily lives is what keeps our minds and bodies from shutting down. Without a sufficient amount of sleep, an array of health related issues can arise. Not only is an overall feeling of tiredness, irritability and lack of concentration a concern, other factors can affect mortality including cardiovascular problems, an increase in anxiety and depression, as well as a risk for weight gain leading to obesity. There are many factors that can affect why people do not get a good night’s sleep. One of the major influences is that of the increased use of technology based devices. With the increasing desire to be connected to social media

Generation Z is addicted to social media because it is the first thing they worry when they wake up. They pick up their phones to see what people posted in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening. Dr. Helen Driver, a somnologist (with means the study of sleep), explains, “The explosion of social media and people staying on devices for longer – and taking them to bed with them – is a huge problem”. Social media has effected Generation Z’s by sleep because the light is from the electronics which interferes with sleep. Not only does social media affect the quality of sleep but, the quantity of sleep too. The next morning, they only got a few hours of sleep and they do not feel well both physically and mentally. If someone has issues with turning off their electronic devices in the evening, then they should dim the lights or and turn the power off.

One big problem with modern day technology, is that it is affecting our sleep. Most of us technophile teens are used to falling to sleep with TV’s light flickering a show to soothe us into sleep. Others might end the day by scrolling their social media’s news feed until their eyes begin to feel heavy. For example, a recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation found that 95% of people use some type of computer, video game, or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed (www.sleepfoundation.org). Unfortunately, those night time rituals are most likely messing with their sleep patterns. Neuroscientists presume the glowing lights emitted by TV, smartphone and laptop screens mess with your body's sleep-inducing hormones

In the article “Constant Social Media and Teens’ Mental Health” Alan Mozes theorizes that ninety percent of teens all around the world use social media. Meaning that this could be affecting their mental health. Adolescents are now vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation due to social media use, says psychology administrator, Heather Cleland Woods. The article asserts that 467 people were asked about their social media use, what times of the day they use it, and the pressure they feel when they can not respond to a message. The tests show that those who were more involved and somewhat addicted to social media have the greater chance of depression, anxiety, and poor sleep. This test refutes that cutting the use of social media

Over the years, electronic media has contributed different ways in the modern society, especially young adults, who has been the largest group among media users. The use of Electronic Media has recently raised a concern regarding to sleeping behaviors that are presented among students around the world. Since the early 21st century, researchers have conducted a study that shows the connection between electronic media and sleeping patterns with young adults (Journal of Sleep Research, 2014, 389). As students increasingly continue their habits of using Electronic Media as personal entertainment purpose, they are at a potential risk of developing insufficient amount of sleep as well as encountering health problems. Even though Electronic Media has given students access to their education and promote social network connection, Electronic Media use should be limited at school because too much exposure to Electronic Media can cause health problems and social isolation among young adults and the use of electronic media interferes with students sleeping habits.

All of us are so less bothered about the fact that our sleep, and also its pattern, is getting affected due to increased stress levels of our daily life, and jam-packed schedules. Getting adequate sleep is almost becoming a luxury, rather than a necessity. Remaining awake till late night is becoming a habit – especially of the younger generation today - though even young parents are quite happy in remaining busy with their social network’s updates. From the well recommended standards of approximately 8 hours of sound sleep for an adult, the trend is alarmingly dropping to about 5-6 hours a day. Sleep is no longer on our priority list. This sleep deprivation is adversely affecting our overall health and life.

Keeping a cell phone on a nightstand may not seem like a massive deal, but technology affects teens sleep negatively in more ways than one realizes. Many young teens are compelled to sleep by excessive cell phone use. Reading, texting, or scrolling through social media from a phone or tablet before bed not only makes it harder to fall asleep, but also impacts how tired or alert you are the next day. According to new research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, the conclusive evidence found, impacts everyone who uses a source of technology before bed. For example, “...direct comparison between reading with a light-emitting device and reading a printed book and the consequences of sleep.” (Beres 4) This study ran for two weeks straight and included twelve participants who read on an iPad for four hours before bed for five days straight and then paper books for four hours straight before bed for five days. The outcome was foreseeable. Therefore, it was tremendously easier

Studies have shown that the average person now spends more time each day on their phone and computer than they do sleeping according to Nick McGillivray (“What are the Effects of Social Media on Youth?). Social has become part of our social society, especially for the many youths. There are positives to being on social media and also equal amounts of danger that come with using social networking sites, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. These social networking sites also have effects on today’s youth by altering the way they behave, the way they learn, in not only a classroom setting but also in the real world setting, and the way that they socialize with their peers and others.