For many, social media and internet gaming offer a welcome respite from life’s stresses. But what are some impacts they can have on our lives?

Social media platforms have become a part of daily life for many of us – it’s a way for us to receive news, stay in touch with friends and family, find new communities, and so much more.

In a recent study, researchers at James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore investigated how Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder can impact sleep quality. The study was led by the University’s Honours graduate Arya Krishnan, and her supervisor, Dr Peter Chew, Associate Professor Psychology.

Social Media Addiction is the excessive and compulsive use of social media which over time, may impair one’s psychological health, relationships, studies, work, and overall well-being. Internet Gaming Disorder refers to “a pattern of excessive and prolonged Internet gaming that results in a cluster of cognitive and behavioural symptoms, such as progressive loss of control over gaming, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms, analogous to the symptoms of substance use disorders”.

“We wanted to examine whether the impact of Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder on sleep quality could be explained through self-regulation and bedtime procrastination,” says Ms Krishnan.

This study employs the time displacement hypothesis, which proposes that the time spent on social media and internet gaming takes away the time needed to get quality sleep. In previous studies, Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder were found to be negatively related to sleep quality. This suggests that the more an individual is addicted to social media and internet gaming, the poorer their sleep quality would be.

The study also looked into self-regulation – the ability to monitor, plan, and manage one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviours during changes in circumstances or to achieve personal goals. Individuals with strong self-regulation skills are better equipped to limit their time on social media and gaming, thus protecting their sleep quality and overall well-being. On the other hand, poor self-regulation can lead to bedtime procrastination and difficulty disengaging from digital activities, resulting in insufficient sleep and its associated negative outcomes.

Overall, the researchers found that higher levels of Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder lead to lower impulse control. In other words, the more one is addicted to social media and internet gaming, the harder it would be to control the impulses. This results in increased bedtime procrastination and subsequently reduces the time needed to get quality sleep, which supports the time displacement hypothesis. Individuals with higher levels of addiction or disorder would experience higher levels of bedtime procrastination. At the same time, due to situational limitations, it cannot be inferred that SMA and IGD cause poor sleep quality as people who find it difficult to fall asleep might be choosing to engage in social media and internet gaming.

The study suggests the implementation of strategies, such as goal management training, to help in overcoming impulse control issues and to decrease bedtime procrastination and thus improve sleep quality.

"By finding out more about the mechanisms linking Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder and sleep quality, we can develop targeted strategies to promote healthier digital behaviours and enhance overall well-being,” says Professor Chew.