How your bedtime may be fuelling your social media addiction
‘Night owls’ more likely to develop social media addiction, study finds
- A new study has found that individuals who prefer to go to sleep later, known as night owls, are significantly more prone to developing smartphone and social media addiction.
- Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and the University of Surrey identified that loneliness and anxiety are primary drivers, with young adults using smartphones to cope emotionally, often worsening their distress.
- This problematic usage, defined by anxiousness when separated from phones and neglecting responsibilities, creates a 'vicious cycle' predominantly affecting young adults aged 18-25 in the UK.
- The study highlights that emotional factors, especially loneliness, explain why night owls are more vulnerable to problematic technology use, with nearly 40 per cent of UK students showing signs of social media addiction.
- Experts advocate for targeted education and support systems to address the underlying reasons for excessive phone use, particularly during late evening hours, rather than just limiting screen time, while politicians consider social media caps for children.