Hooked on the Scroll: How Social Media Addiction Is Stealing Our Sleep
This blog is about social media addiction.
In today’s hyperconnected world, it’s become almost second nature to reach for our phones the moment we wake up—and the last thing we do before falling asleep. But what starts as a quick scroll through Instagram or TikTok can easily turn into hours of mindless swiping. More and more people are finding themselves trapped in this late-night loop, sacrificing precious hours of rest. Could our obsession with social media be quietly fueling a global sleep crisis?
General Introduction of Our Topic
1. Why We Chose This Topic
We decided to focus on the connection between social media addiction and sleep deprivation because this is a problem that many of us personally relate to. In today’s world, social media has become a big part of our daily lives. It’s how we stay in touch with friends, get news, and pass the time. But at the same time, we’ve noticed how easy it is to lose control—especially at night. Just a few minutes of scrolling can suddenly turn into hours, making it harder to fall asleep and get enough rest. We’ve all had nights where we stayed up too late because we couldn’t stop checking Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. That’s why we wanted to take a closer look at this issue and find out how serious it really is, and what we can do to deal with it.
2. What We Know So Far
From what we already know, social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. Features like endless scrolling, push notifications, and personalized content make it very hard to stop using them—especially when we're tired and looking for something easy to do. We’ve read that blue light from screens can interfere with the body’s natural sleep cycle by suppressing melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy. Also, emotional reactions to what we see online—like exciting videos, upsetting news, or even just comparing ourselves to others—can keep our minds active and make it harder to relax. Several studies suggest that using social media late at night is linked to shorter sleep duration, lower sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. But we’re still at the beginning of our research, and we’re curious to find out more about how and why this happens.
At this point, we believe that social media is not completely bad, and it can even have positive effects, such as helping us stay connected or find useful information. However, we also believe that using it too much—especially right before bed—can negatively affect both our mental and physical health. We don’t think quitting social media entirely is the answer, but we do think it’s important to become more aware of our habits and find a better balance. Our goal with this blog is not only to understand the connection between social media and sleep problems, but also to share what we learn with others who might be struggling with the same issue. Hopefully, by the end of this project, we’ll be able to suggest some realistic strategies for using social media in a healthier way.
💙The blog is scheduled to be updated once or twice a week.💙
Over the next several weeks, we will be conducting research to explore the topic of social media addiction and sleep deprivation. To guide our investigation, we have created 30 research questions that cover different aspects of the issue. Our goal is to answer each question using reliable sources and present what we learn through this blog. Each answer will be supported by at least two references, including academic studies, expert opinions, or trustworthy websites. By the end of this project, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the topic and share practical insights with our readers.
↓↓The page with the 30 research questions can be accessed from the following link.↓↓
(Maika)
This is a well-considered topic. Over the years, I’ve seen how technology—especially social media—has changed the way we live, often in ways we don’t immediately notice. Sleep is one of those fundamental things we tend to take for granted, and it’s concerning to see how easily it can be disrupted by habits we think are harmless. I appreciate your willingness to look deeper into the issue rather than just pointing fingers. I look forward to reading your findings and hope they will help people of all ages reflect on their own habits.
返信削除This passage thoughtfully highlights a very common problem today, how social media use, especially before bed, contributes to poor sleep. Many people can relate to losing track of time while scrolling through apps, which harms both sleep quality and overall health. It’s important that we recognize social media’s positive roles while also pointing out the risks of overuse. Your balanced view and focus on finding healthy habits rather than quitting entirely make the approach really encouraging and interesting. Raising awareness about this connection is valuable, and I look forward to seeing the strategies you guys suggest to improve sleep and wellbeing.
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