Does using your phone affect sleep?[]
Yes, using your phone too much close to bedtime can affect your sleep.
What may seem like a harmless habit to you — jumping into bed and opening up your phone — can actually have a big impact on your overall health.
Doomscrolling, for example, can distract you, which keeps you awake, stimulates your brain and delays REM sleep. In fact, when your brain revs up, it can keep you awake for hours beyond your normal bedtime.
However, it’s not just that you’re on your phone that can disrupt your sleep. It’s more what you’re doing with the technology that makes a difference, like actively using your phone.
“Studies indicate that more passive use of technology — such as listening to music via your phone or watching a non-distressing TV show — doesn’t really have an effect on sleep compared to active use,” says Dr. Drerup. “Active use includes things like texting or social media.”