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Turn Phones Off at Night, Experts Say, as New Study Refines Sleep Concerns

Researchers found moderate late‑night use most disruptive to adult sleep, prompting a one‑week earlier shutdown self‑test.

Overview

  • Canadian researchers from Toronto Metropolitan University and Université Laval reported that adults using phones at bedtime 1–4 nights a week had the most sleep problems, while daily and rare users reported similar sleep quality.
  • Study co‑author Colleen Carney advises trying an earlier shutdown for one week to see if sleep improves, noting that no change suggests the phone may not be the primary issue.
  • Turning a phone fully off overnight helps preserve lithium‑ion battery health by reducing unnecessary overnight drain and avoiding extra charge cycles.
  • Even in standby or flight mode, devices maintain connections, check for updates, and sync data, so powering down prevents background activity that can deplete batteries.
  • Regular shutdowns or restarts can clear minor software glitches and support updates, the BfS reports no evidence from long‑term studies that phone radiation is harmful, and adolescents may be more sensitive to evening blue light than adults.