Excessive Online Scrolling Is Causing ‘Social Media-Related Nightmares’

New research suggests that the more time you spend on social media and the more emotionally connected you are to your presence, the more likely you are to toss and turn during the night because of “social media-related nightmares.”

According to one psychologist, “As social media becomes increasingly intertwined with our lives, its impact extends beyond waking hours and may influence our dreams.” 

The research, involving 595 Iranian adult social media users and published in the journal BMC Psychology found a strong correlation between social media screen time and these new types of bad dreams.

These new “social media-related nightmares” were found to stem from the stresses and anxieties of online experiences and usually involve social media-related themes, such as cyberbullying, online hate or excessive social media use.

This recent study comes as people are becoming increasingly concerned with the physical and mental health impacts of social media and poor sleep as they seem to be on the rise.

To combat this, the researchers suggest that social media users work to be more aware of how they engage with these platforms and the thoughts and feelings that arise and then create a relaxing sleep environment.

Scrolling on social media has become part of many people’s bedtime routine, but experts strongly recommend against it, noting that those sites are made to keep you online and can impact your mind long after you’ve logged off.

Instead, sleep experts recommend ending screen time one hour before shutting your eyes, instead opting for something that helps you unwind such as reading or tidying up.