The Troubling Connection Between Children’s Social Media Use and Sleep Deprivation

by Lynn Posluns:

In response to what teachers are experiencing in the classroom, four of Ontario’s largest school boards recently filed legal action against the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, alleging that the platforms are disrupting student learning. 

At the same time, new survey data released this month by Women’s Brain Health Initiative’s Brainable program exposed troubling links between children’s social media use and sleep deprivation. 

A majority of the more than 4,500 students in the Greater Toronto Area who took part in the survey recognized the need to alter their screen time use and sleeping habits to improve their brain health. However, despite being aware of this, an overwhelming number of students find themselves struggling to break these habits.

And while Ontario Premier Doug Ford says resources should be focused on the kids who are in those classrooms, and the federal government has committed to funding for youth mental health, the situation remains critical and must be treated as a crisis.

Researchers have consistently found that sleep is a vital role in the development of adolescent brains. Sufficient sleep — nine to 11 hours each night for 10- to 14-year-olds — helps body systems restore and recover, protects healthy brain development, and facilitates learning and memory consolidation.

Chronic sleep loss or poor quality can have profound consequences on regulating emotions, decision-making, controlling behaviour, and being less resilient to stress. Addressing sleep issues early can reduce the risk of future mental health struggles. 

There are preventative treatments and solutions available and ways in which parents, students, teachers, community stakeholders, and government can make a more meaningful impact in the health and wellness of our children.

The federal and provincial governments must collaborate on a national awareness campaign — similar on the scale of anti-tobacco efforts in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In addition to educating parents on the steps they can take to prevent device addiction and promote the benefits of a full night’s sleep for children, these high-profile campaigns should include opportunities for the voices of the children suffering through this reality. 

Additionally, governments should look at providing funding to expand access to effective classroom programs for students and teaching tools to help reverse current trends and increase awareness of effective strategies to reduce excess screen time, increase sleep time, and promote physical activity. 

Lastly,  developing community and classroom programs with trusted partners for preschool families and Kindergarten to Grade 4 students are needed to  disrupt these harmful trends. Getting a handle on these issues at a young age will make the biggest impact on future generations.

Social media and screens can be helpful tools if used correctly; too much screen time or bad influences on social media can harm a developing brain. We know this. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t take the opportunity to alter some of the bad habits we see prevalent in youth today and address this issue head-on.

Lynn Posluns is the president and CEO of Women’s Brain Health Initiative, a Canadian and U.S. charitable foundation dedicated to protecting the brain health of women, caregivers, and families.