Session Schedule

Find a specific presentation in the session by navigating to the timestamp indicated below.

0:00:00
Introduction

0:01:11
Impact of screens on sleep: An update on mechanisms, moderators and bi-directional links
Serena Bauducco (Sweden)

0:16:45
Using objective measures to determine if screens really do impact teen sleep
Rachael Taylor (New Zealand)

0:31:12
Using passive sensing of screen time to improve assessment of timing and content effects on sleep health
Lauren Hale (United States)

0:49:47
Personalized sleep interventions for young adults: Addressing bedtime postponement through a behavioral framework for media use
Sooyeon(Aly) Suh (Korea, Republic of)

1:06:17
Feasibility of implementing global screen time changes to improve sleep health and physical and mental wellbeing in children and adolescents
Emma Louise Gale (United Kingdom)

Summary

A 2023 UNESCO report highlights the dual nature of digital technology, enhancing education and connectedness while global efforts over the past year have examined its potential effects on sleep health, socialization, real-life learning, and physical and mental well-being.
Digital media is associated with delayed bedtimes, shorter sleep, and reduced sleep quality in children and adolescents. Proposed mechanisms include blue light, which may suppress melatonin and delay sleep onset, and the stimulating and addictive nature of screens, making it harder to wind down. However, emerging evidence suggests a more nuanced view. The impact of blue light on sleep disruption may be overstated, and evidence points to a possible bi-directional link, where technology is used as a tool to manage difficulties falling asleep. These uncertainties underscore the need for balanced, evidence-based approaches to guide policymakers, clinicians, educators, and caregivers. In a digital-first world where technology dominates education, socialization, and entertainment, is limiting screen time feasible, or should harm minimization be prioritized?
This symposium addresses the complex relationship between screen time and sleep health in youth, dispelling misconceptions and offering actionable strategies.
Dr Serena Bauducco opens with an overview of the fast-evolving field, examining how, whether, and for whom screen time impacts sleep. Her evidence-based review, combined with experimental data on social media, sleep, and arousal, provides a comprehensive perspective that frames the symposium discussion. Professor Rachael Taylor follows with innovative research using body-cam footage to track teenagers’ screen time and sleep patterns, offering critical insights into this relationship. Professor Lauren Hale presents results using passive sensing technologies to enhance the assessment of how the timing and content of screen use influence sleep health. Associate Professor “Aly” Soo Yeon Suh shifts the focus to interventions, examining smartphone use and its role in bedtime procrastination among young adults. Concluding the session, Dr Emma Louise Gale evaluates the feasibility of implementing global screen time guidelines to enhance sleep health and overall well-being, connecting current practices with emerging trends.
This international and interdisciplinary panel features experts from the UK, Sweden, New Zealand, South Korea, and the USA, representing diverse perspectives and career stages, from early-career researchers to established professors, highlighting fresh insights and experienced perspectives. The symposium fosters dialogue.