One of the most common yet underestimated factors shaping modern sleep is how we engage with social media before bed.

"Avoid screens before bed" is one of the most common pieces of sleep advice. But what if the real problem isn't screen time—it's the way we use social media at night?

Research suggests that how often people check social media − and how emotionally engaged they are with it − can influence sleep even more than how much time they spend online.