The Effects of Social Media on Sleep in College Students

Background Social media has shown to cause sleep deprivation in young adults. College students often spend hours on social media, affecting their sleep. The purpose of this study was to compare undergraduate male and female students’ social media use and sleep patterns. Methods Undergraduate students at a university were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional study exploring college experiences. An online survey was used to collect data on college students' social media usage and sleep patterns. Frequencies, chi-square and logistic regression were used to explore the relationship among the variables. Results There was no statistical significance between the use of social media and sleeping issues. There were significant differences based on gender in the use of social media. Females are 2.5 times more likely to have trouble falling asleep. Students who use Twitter are 1.5 times more likely to have trouble relaxing. Discussion A reason that females may use social media more frequently is because they may be more likely to share their lives with others. Females may be more likely to have trouble falling asleep due to hormonal differences and other factors causing insomnia. Using twitter may release dopamine making students more likely to stay on the app longer. Conclusion Putting limitations on social media can lessen time on apps. Tips such as not using social media an hour or more before bed can help with relaxation. Setting a routine can let the body know when it is time to begin to decompress, leading to better sleep.