Electronic Devices Keep You Up at Night

Question

Electronic devices produce blue light. Blue light is short-wavelength enriched light that has been proven to slow the production of your natural melatonin release. Blue light can also affect the quality of sleep you are getting. Children are most affected by the lack of sleep from blue light, because their brains are still developing.

I found this when researching issues that can affect sleep. I found numerous other articles that also supported this claim. This article was written by Danielle pacheco and medically approved by Kimberly trong.

Comments

I thought your fact check was really good. I thought you provided a great source to go with the claim. The source provided very helpful evidence to why using electronic devices at night isn't good for someone's health, the article also provided tips on how to solve this issue which I thought was a great addition to the article.

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I agree with this fact check and appreciate the explanation, however it would've been good to know a few more of the other articles you found that prove this claim just to add extra supports. I liked how you went into more than just whether it was right or wrong but gave an example.

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I like how you have multiple sources have proven that using electronics before bed can make it harder to fall asleep. This is because the blue light emitted from screens reduces the body's natural production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.

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This is a good claim due to the way its being backed up and the evidence that was brought into your claim with your sources good job!

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I agree with this statement that electronic devices can disrupt sleep patterns due to the blue light and how it stimulates our brain making us more alert and awake. The article provided was clear and had good details to support the statement. A clear understanding on the science behind how it affects us and ways how we can prevent technology disrupting our sleep routine.

Answer 1

This is true, as many trusted sources, especially those with .org domains, confirm it. Blue light from screens can reduce melatonin production, which is why it's recommended to turn off devices about 45 minutes before bed. Many doctors support this advice as well.

Answer 2

It has been proven by doctors that using screens before bed has an impact on sleep. An article I read used an example of doomscrolling. This can distract you and stimulate your brain. It has also been proven that the light your phone admits can cause harm to your eyes. 

3 Reasons to Ditch Your Phone Before Bed

Answer 3

The Sleep Foundation's article "How Electronics Affect Sleep" discusses how using electronic devices before bedtime can negatively impact sleep quality. The article cites studies showing that exposure to blue light from screens can suppress melatonin production, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This suppression can make it harder to fall asleep and reduce sleep quality. Additionally, the article references research indicating that engaging with electronic devices before bed can lead to increased mental stimulation, delaying sleep onset and reducing overall sleep duration. This is supported by a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, which found that using electronic devices before bedtime is associated with poorer sleep quality among university students.

Answer 4

The claim "Electronic devices keep you up at night" is true due to the fact that a multitude of electronic devices emit blue light, unless you have a setting to turn off the blue light emitted from your device. Blue light is a certain wavelength of light that is shown to boost things such as attention and reaction times, which may be beneficial during the daytime but can affect you negatively during your sleeping hours. Blue light may make it more difficult for you to fall asleep and cause your bodies natural sleep cycle, called the circadian rhythm, to fall out of its natural state. This is due to the fact that blue light throws off your bodies production of melatonin which is vital to your sleeping habits. It can also disrupt sleep due to the fact that being online causes so much mental stimulation that your brain takes a while to calm down after hours of being on an electronic device such as your phone, as many people do before bed these days.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side

Answer 5

According to the Sleep Foundation electronics with back lighting such as phones, tablets, TV's, readers, and computers reduce or delay the natural production of melatonin due to the short wavelengths of light produced that we call blue-light. Fluorescent and LED lights have been studied and are found to do the same thing. The blue-light causes slow wave and rapid eye movement sleep stages to become interrupted leading to less efficient sleep.  Children are particularly vulnerable to the blue-light sleep deprivation effects because slow wave and REM sleep are a necessity for growth and brain development.

Answer 6

The claim is from an article written by Danielle Pacheco and medically approved by Kimberly Trong, hosted on the Sleep Foundation website. The article discusses how blue light from electronic devices can slow melatonin production and affect sleep quality, especially in children. The Sleep Foundation is a reputable organization dedicated to providing information on sleep health. Danielle Pacheco is a writer for the foundation, and Kimberly Trong is a medical professional, which adds credibility to the article.

 *Harvard Health Publishing*: This article discusses how blue light can affect sleep and suggests ways to mitigate its effects. It supports the claim that blue light from electronic devices can interfere with melatonin production and sleep quality. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/blue-light-has-a-dark-side

American Academy of Ophthalmology*: This article explains that while blue light from screens is less intense than sunlight, prolonged exposure can still impact sleep patterns. It supports the idea that blue light can affect sleep, particularly in children. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/blue-light-digital-eye-strain

Conclusion:

The claim is supported by reputable sources. Both Harvard Health Publishing and the American Academy of Ophthalmology agree that blue light from electronic devices can slow melatonin production and affect sleep quality, particularly in children.

Answer 7

This claim appears to be true. Although the source used isn't based on a specific study, doing more research has lead me to the same conclusion. In an article by UCLA Health, it's said that using an electronic device that omits blue-light waves before bed tricks your internal clock, slows your body's release of melatonin, keeps your brain activated, and inhibits sleep quality. Blue light interference prevents the suprachiasmatic nucleus from activating normal bodily functions that regulate hormones. In turn, this makes it hard for the suprachiasmatic nucleus to trigger the pineal gland, which produces melatonin. This makes it even harder to relax. This idea of screens affecting sleep quality is further supported in an article by the National Library of Medicine. The article details an actual study revolving around the use of technology before bedtime and how it affects sleep quality (as well as daytime sleepiness) in adults. The results of this study state, "regular use of almost all devices was associated with 'bad' or 'very bad' sleep quality."

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/are-electronic-devices-impacting-your-sleep 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8906383/#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20devices%20in,1.98%2C%2095%25%20CI%3A%201.51 

Answer 8

After I had done my research, I would agree that this is true. First, you bring up good points and use evidence in your claim. I dug deeper, and there is tons of evidence pointing at electronics and blue light as a cause of keeping you up at night or not getting that much sleep. I came upon the National Library of Medicine, and it is more of a cause shown for children. Another website shares, “Checking your phone stimulates your brain,” Dr. Drerup explains. “You’re more active and awake. Even just a quick check can engage your brain and delay sleep.” From my research, there have been no signs pointing to this being completely false, only signs pointing to this claim being unclear in its effect on adults and children. All the evidence also shows that multiple surveys have been conducted to support this claim.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/put-the-phone-away-3-reasons-why-looking-at-it-before-bed-is-a-bad-habit

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8906383/

Answer 9

This is true! At the very least, it is mostly true--- true enough for some correlation to be found. The National Library of Medicine, a very accredited resource that is used globally, has a page about a study that backs this claim up.
In this study, they found that within their sample of 566 participants, 128 individuals (or 22.61%) had poorer sleep quality overall, along with their higher phone usage. The authors do note however that more studies should be done with larger sample sizes in the future to get a clearer, more accurate answer. But even with that, the study proves that if you are having poorer quality of sleep yet notice an increase in your phone usage, there may be a correlation. 

Here is a link to the study!

Answer 10

Light, aside from temperature, is the most important trigger for regulating sleep and wakefulness. When light levels drop, the body releases melatonin, a hormone that signals it's time to sleep. While sunlight is the primary source of bright light, electronic screens also emit blue light, which can interfere with melatonin production if used before bed. This issue is worsened by stimulating activities like social media, work tasks, or engaging TV shows, which keep the brain alert. As a result, screen exposure at night can disrupt sleep patterns, making it harder to fall asleep and negatively impacting overall health.

https://www.sbm.org/healthy-living/blue-in-the-face-the-effects-of-blue-light-on-sleep?