Kirra Pendergast · 11/03/2025 · 2 min read
Short answer: Absolutely not (unless it is used as a medical device). Here’s why.
Their Phone Is Robbing Their Sleep (and Sanity)
That glowing screen isn’t just harmless fun, it’s wrecking their sleep. Blue light shuts down melatonin production, tricking their brain into thinking it’s still daytime. Instead of winding down, they’re wired up, scrolling past midnight. And trust me, they’re not reading Shakespeare.......they’re deep in TikTok spirals, group chat chaos, or bingeing “just one more” episode.
Midnight Messages = Total Exhaustion
You know those hundreds of pointless group chat messages blowing up at 12 AM, 1 AM? If you think they’re ignoring them, you’re fooling yourself. And what are they? A blurry ceiling. Someone’s half-eaten burger. A random “wyd.” Nothing. But they have to check. Whether they’re replying or just scrolling to see if they got mentioned, their sleep is under attack, all night long.
This isn’t just about being a little tired. Sleep-deprived teens are running on empty. Their brains can’t focus. Their emotions are on edge. Their grades are slipping. Their mental health? On a downward spiral. And for what? A streak of unread nonsense that’ll be forgotten by morning.
Anxiety in Their Pocket
Social media doesn’t shut off at bedtime not even close. Think parental controls help? There are thousands of YouTube tutorials showing how to bypass them in seconds. Changing the time zone to bypass app limits? Easy. Using a secondary account parents don’t even know about? Standard. If their phone is within reach, they’re checking notifications, overanalysing why their friend hasn’t responded in 60 seconds, and sometimes doomscrolling through war, violence, and chaos. Graphic, unfiltered, and relentless.
Most of us didn’t go to bed with a front-row seat to global atrocities. But they do. Every. Single. Night. Instead of winding down, for some their brain is stewing in negativity, spiralling into stress, anxiety, and depression. Their body is in bed, but their brain may be stuck in fight or flight, all night long.
Their Grades (and Mood) Take a Hit
Less sleep = worse focus, lower grades, and more irritability. Teens running on empty don’t just struggle in school; they’re also more impulsive, more emotional, and more prone to burnout. It’s not just about tired mornings, it’s about long-term well-being.
The Easy Fix.......Get Phones Out of the Bedroom
- Buy an actual alarm clock (yes, they still exist).
- Charge phones outside the bedroom, in the kitchen, living room, anywhere but bedside.
- Encourage books, music, or journaling instead of screens at least an hour before bed.
Your kid might resist at first, but protecting their sleep is one of the most powerful things you can do for their mental health, focus, and happiness.
And let’s be honest........we all need the reminder to do this for ourselves, too.
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