The smartphone has revolutionized communication and convenience, but excessive use—especially before bed—can harm our health and sleep quality. Evening screen time strains our eyes as we mindlessly scroll Instagram feeds, binge YouTube videos, chat on WhatsApp, or get hooked on TikTok. Before you know it, hours have vanished, leaving sleep disrupted. A rigorous Sleepjunkie study identifies one app as the prime offender. Any guesses?
No surprise: it's TikTok. Researchers examined over 2,000 Americans who used their phones before sleep. Each wore a smartwatch to track time to fall asleep, REM (paradoxical) sleep duration, and next-morning fatigue after their assigned app within one hour of bedtime.
TikTok stood out negatively: users experienced just 14% paradoxical sleep and took one hour and seven minutes to drift off. This stems from the app's addictive thrill, sparking dopamine and adrenaline surges that mimic a 'happiness' high.
Conclusion: Stick to TikTok during the day.
