Are you a night owl? New Gen Z study ties staying up late to 'problematic' smartphone and social media use

"Being a night owl has its perks. Scientists have found that people who habitually stay up late may be more creative, and perhaps even more intelligent, than those who go to bed and wake up earlier. But it also has its downsides: There's also evidence that night owls may be more susceptible to psychiatric issues and cognitive decline than their early bird peers."

"In a paper published last week in the journal PLOS One, researchers found that Gen Z night owls appear to be more prone to "problematic" smartphone use and social media addiction than early birds. The reason why is particularly concerning: The researchers found that loneliness and anxiety were the biggest drivers of unhealthy smartphone and social media use. The researchers assessed the mental health of 407 young adults aged between 18 and 25"

"Many of us are guilty of a little evening doomscrolling, but the study shines a light on some serious downsides: Young people who stayed up late not only had more unhealthy smartphone use, but they also had higher rates of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, and poor sleep quality. The study also found that while loneliness and anxiety both led to more problematic smart phone use and smart phone addiction, loneliness was the stronger predictor."

Gen Z night owls are more prone to problematic smartphone use and social media addiction than early birds. Assessment involved 407 young adults aged 18 to 25 and identified higher rates of problematic smartphone use among those who stayed up late. Night owls reported higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and poor sleep quality. Loneliness and anxiety both increased the likelihood of unhealthy smartphone and social media use, with loneliness the stronger predictor. A vicious cycle can emerge as young adults awake and alone at night turn to social media for connection, exacerbating mental-health problems.

Read at Fast Company