Interrupting Sleep for Facebook and Twitter

We probably all know someone who is prone to staying up late playing on the computer.  A new study shows that Facebook and Twitter “addicts” are going one step further — they’re actually checking the social media sites while in bed.  A new study from electronics marketplace Retrovo.com asked social media users about how often they update their statuses and check on their online friends.  Probably the most disturbing finding for us here at SleepBetter.org is that 48% of respondents admitted to checking or updating Facebook or Twitter during the night or as soon as they awake.

While it’s not uncommon to wake in the middle of the night at times for a bathroom break or to get a drink of water, becoming fully awake and engaging your brain enough to type on a computer or smartphone is a recipe for reduced sleep quality.  Here’s a graphic with a breakdown of sleep-related findings by age group:

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