Gaby
According to research from Flinders University, scrolling through social media right before bed increases the likelihood of having disturbing nightmares.
Previous studies have indicated that this habit can lead to issues with nighttime rest and negative dreams. All of this, in turn, contributes to anxiety and stress. These findings stem from surveys showing that about three-quarters of internet users dive into social media before sleeping.
Social media is increasingly intertwined with our lives. It disrupts our sleep and casts a shadow over our dreams. The study’s authors, led by psychology professor Reza Shahbakhsh, reached that conclusion.
What the “Nightmare Scale” Revealed
The university team surveyed 595 adults who regularly used social media. Participants were divided into two groups: those over 27 years old and those under 27. Volunteers were asked to respond to 14 questions from the so-called “Social Media Nightmare Scale” (SMNS). Researchers used the responses to determine the types of nightmares experienced and how often they occurred.
Participants were asked to focus specifically on nightmares—those distressing dreams that caused them to wake up (as opposed to ordinary unpleasant dreams).
The questions addressed feelings of helplessness, loss of control, depression, victimization, and mistakes made on social media. Response options ranged from zero (never) to seven (several times a week).
Participants’ most common nightmare was being unable to access social media. The next most frequent nightmare involved relationship problems with other social media users.
The study also showed that nightmares could be triggered by internet-related stress, cyberbullying, online hate, or cyberstalking. People who reported using social media more frequently felt more emotionally connected to it, and they were the ones who experienced nightmares most often.
Gender and age didn’t significantly affect the patterns found in the survey.
The team concluded that stressful events on social media could contribute to increased anxiety, reduced mental well-being, and poorer sleep quality.
The study found that many participants were born in the digital age and cannot imagine life without social media. That often leads to dependency, the Daily Mail reported.
The researchers said society increasingly treats social media use as almost mandatory. They recommended simple steps to resist the pull of social media. Keep phones as far away from the bedroom as possible at night, limit irritants, and create a comfortable, calming sleep environment.
Professor Shahbakhsh also suggested that with the rapid advancement of technology—particularly artificial intelligence and virtual reality—and growing dependence on these tools, people will increasingly experience dreams with technological content.
