# Social Media Use and Sleep Quality in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review of Reviews

## TL;DR

This review explores how social media affects sleep in teens and young adults, finding that excessive use is linked to poorer sleep quality.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive synthesis of existing reviews on social media and sleep, identifying specific platforms and usage patterns most strongly associated with sleep disruption.

## Key findings

- Problematic social media use is strongly associated with poorer sleep quality compared to general use.
- Facebook and Twitter are most strongly linked to shorter sleep duration and later bedtimes.
- Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the long-term effects of social media on sleep.

## Abstract

Background: Social media use has grown rapidly and has been integrated into the lives of many adolescents and young adults worldwide. Research indicates that excessive social media engagement can negatively impact sleep quality through various mechanisms. Objective: This scoping review of reviews aims to explore the relationship between social media use and sleep quality among adolescents and young adults, synthesize existing evidence, identify research gaps, and highlight directions for future research. Methods: Arksey’s and O’Malley’s five-stage framework was used to conduct this scoping review. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, and Scopus for articles published between 2020 and 2025. The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews or meta-analyses focused on adolescents and young adults, examining social media use in relation to sleep quality, and peer-reviewed articles written in English. Ten articles met all eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Results: The findings indicate a small but consistent negative effect of social media use on sleep quality. Problematic social media use showed a stronger association with poorer sleep than general social media use. Specific platforms such as Facebook and Twitter contributed most to shorter sleep duration, later bedtimes, and poorer sleep quality, while Snapchat and Instagram showed moderate effects, and WhatsApp and WeChat showed smaller effects. Conclusions: Problematic social media use is strongly associated with poorer sleep quality, while general use may have smaller effects. Future research focusing on longitudinal studies would help deepen the understanding of the effects of social media on sleep and guide targeted interventions. Encouraging responsible or healthy social media use is vital in reducing the risks of problematic use while highlighting the benefits as well.