Teenagers across the United States are increasingly spending late-night hours on their phones, a habit that is impacting their sleep and overall well-being. According to recent research, more than half of teens are using their phones between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on school nights, with many engaging in this behavior even between midnight and 4 a.m.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend that teenagers get eight to 10 hours of sleep each night. However, the study led by Jason M. Nagata, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, reveals that nighttime phone use is cutting into these crucial hours of rest. While the study does not directly link phone use to harmful outcomes, it aligns with previous findings that sleep disruption negatively affects cognitive function and emotional regulation.

Dr. Mary A. Carskadon, a professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University, notes that inadequate sleep can impair teenagers’ ability to learn and retain information. Emotional regulation also suffers, with sleep-deprived teens reporting increased anxiety, irritability, and difficulty managing emotions.

Parental Influence and Solutions

Addressing this issue requires family involvement. Nagata emphasizes the role of parents in modeling healthy screen habits. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests creating a family media plan to guide screen use, including setting screen-free zones and times, and keeping devices out of bedrooms. Carskadon recommends a ‘family media lockbox’ to encourage physical separation from devices during sleep hours.

Teens primarily use their phones for social media, entertainment, and communication apps like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, which require active engagement and can disrupt sleep. Notifications and the habit of checking phones immediately upon waking further fragment sleep.

By fostering healthier habits and setting clear guidelines, families can help teenagers achieve better sleep and improve their overall health and well-being.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.