How social media is ruining your child's sleep

Excessive use of social media is responsible for a shorter sleep duration says study.

According to a recent study published in a journal named Acta Paediatrica, the excessive use of social media can lead to reduced sleeping hours among children.

The research was conducted among the Canadian students aged between 11-20 years which revealed a dose-response relation between the over-use of social media and the shorter sleep duration among the students.

There were in total 5242 participants in the study out of which 63.6 per cent slept less than recommended and 73.4 per cent students reported that they used social media for at least an hour per day.

'The impact social media can have on sleep patterns is a topic of great interest given the well-known adverse effects of sleep deprivation on health,' said senior author Dr Jean-Philippe Chaput, of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute.

He further added that electronic screen devices are pervasive in today's society and they are just starting to understand their risks and benefits.

Photograph: Courtesy Sean Dreilinger/Wikimedia Commons. Pic used for representational purpose only.