Social media, especially TikTok, negatively impacts college students’ sleep. College students are known to have poor sleep habits because of overwhelming academics, excessive social life, and tight schedules. At least 60% of college students have poor sleep qualitycould not be completed 9 hours recommended By Johns Hopkins Medicine. Recently, a new factor has been added to sleep deprivation among college students. That’s his TikTok, the top dog on social media.
TikTok is a popular social media app that has changed the way we look at entertainment.The main function of this app is TikTok “page for you” Compile content tailored to your audience. The app collects data such as which videos people have liked and shared to create a customized page of media to consume. The “For You Page” content consists of short videos that people can scroll through for hours. It puts the viewer’s brain in an ignorant loop and makes it impossible to look away.
TikTok has its merits. One of the platform’s catchphrases is “find the community.” This is fitting as many people have found the community on the app. Each community has its own hashtag added to the caption of the video, with “Tok” at the end to indicate it’s a TikTok video. From MomTok to SkaterTok, WitchTok to FinanceTok, there’s something for everyone. it creates jobs Hired thousands of US employers since 2020 According to Forbes. Its addictive nature affects more than viewers realize, especially in the sleep department.
TikTok’s addictiveness comes from its design. His two most concerning aspects of the format are the limited number of buttons and video length. The limited number of buttons is convenient, but the app lets you control how much time you spend on it. short attention span.
Many TikTok users experience distorted sense of timeThey spend hours scrolling through TikTok and don’t know how much time has passed. It’s like being hypnotized.
Another reason TikTok keeps students awake is the blue light emitted from the screen.according to Harvard Medical School, exposure to light suppresses the secretion of melatonin, a hormone that influences circadian rhythms. Exposure to blue light during the day is beneficial. imitate sunlightHowever, nighttime exposure can keep viewers awake.
Since its creation in September 2016, TikTok has rapidly gained popularity, especially among young people.research by Pew Research Center 67% of teens use TikTok, which is more popular than Instagram and Snapchat.
The Breeze surveyed Instagram users about their TikTok usage. The results showed that 80% of him out of 20 respondents used her TikTok before bed. In response to the question, “Does TikTok negatively affect your sleep schedule?”, 82% of students answered positively about the app’s impact on their sleep. One of her Instagram users, @halfbakedcrazy, responded, “Yes, so many negative consequences.”
It’s important to be aware of the dangers of TikTok. The impact on a student’s sleep can be devastating.Short-term problems associated with regular sleep deprivation Including attention deficit, excessive daytime sleepiness, and memory impairmentMemory impairment is particularly threatening to college students because they are unable to retain information given in class and can affect class performance. A student can prevent TikTok from ruining her sleep schedule by setting a time limit on her phone or deciding not to join her TikTok an hour before bed.
Ava Menoni is a freshman Media Arts & Design major. Please contact Ava at menoniap@dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials about JMU and the Harrisonburg community, follow our opinion desk @Breeze_Opinion on Instagram and Twitter.
