Unfortunately, this realm of seemingly superhuman connectivity could be coming at a price, gradually grinding away at one of our most fundamental human needs.
This week, an article published in The Atlantic, "How Smart Phones Hurt Sleep," revealed some sobering statistics.
The piece cites a 2012 Time/Qualcomm poll conducted among 4,700 respondents in seven countries, including the U.S., in which participants were asked to gauge their level of agreement with the following assessment.
"I don't sleep as well as I used to because I am connected to technology all the time."
And the results? Nearly 25% of participants ages 18-24 strongly agree with the above statement, followed by nearly 15% ages 25-29, 10% ages 30-34 ...
And so it goes, gradually decreasing in percentage as participants' ages increase.
The conclusion? Those losing the most sleep are also the ones who need it the most.
"Electronic devices are designed to keep the brain engaged, making it more difficult to get to sleep at night," said Dr. Carol Ash in a Star Ledger/NJ.com article last year. "In addition, the light emitted from these devices limits the body’s release of melatonin, which helps us transition into our nighttime sleep cycle."
Read the complete Atlantic article, How Smartphones Hurt Sleep, to learn more.
