Surgeon General’s Advisory Highlights Social Media’s Impact on Youth Sleep

US Surgeon General has recommended warning labels for social media platforms. This comes amid mounting evidence linking excessive social media use with poor sleep quality among adolescents.

A recent national study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health has unveiled crucial strategies to enhance sleep quality. The research, which involved 9,398 preteens from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, reveals that keeping screens out of the bedroom, turning off phone notifications, and avoiding social media before bedtime significantly improve sleep.

According to the study, adolescents who left their phones on, even in silent mode, experienced less sleep compared to those who turned their phones off completely. Additionally, having a TV or internet-connected device in the bedroom was associated with shorter sleep duration. The research also highlighted that using electronic devices before bed, including social media, video games, and streaming services, negatively impacted sleep.

The study found that 16.2% of adolescents reported being woken up by phone calls, text messages, or emails, while 19.3% used their devices if they woke up during the night. The findings suggest that phone notifications, even on silent, can cause significant sleep disturbances by keeping adolescents alert and engaged.

Dr. Jason Nagata, the lead author, emphasized the importance of these findings for adolescent health. “Ensuring adolescents get enough sleep is vital for their physical and mental development,” he said. The study underscores the need for both parents and teens to adopt better screen habits to support healthier sleep patterns.