TL;DR

• Watching TikTok before bed can lead to bedtime procrastination and poor sleep quality.
• TikTok's endless content can cause cognitive arousal, leading to daytime fatigue.
• Some TikTok sleep tips are supported by scientific evidence, but misinformation is prevalent.
• Physical activity may mitigate some negative effects of TikTok on sleep.
• TikTok can reduce anxiety in certain contexts, but its overall impact on sleep is complex.

How Does TikTok Affect Sleep Quality? 💤

TikTok's impact on sleep quality is a growing concern among researchers. The platform's endless stream of content can lead to bedtime procrastination, where users delay sleep to continue watching videos. This behavior is linked to poor self-control and can negatively affect sleep quality (Miedzobrodzka et al., 2024; Maulida et al., 2024). Additionally, the automatic use of TikTok before bed can increase cognitive arousal, making it harder to fall asleep and leading to daytime fatigue (Wang & Scherr, 2021).

Table: TikTok's Impact on Sleep

Can TikTok Tips Improve Sleep? 🛌

Interestingly, TikTok is also a source of sleep advice, with many users sharing tips under hashtags like #sleephacks and #sleeptips. A study found that most of these tips are supported by empirical evidence, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a calming bedtime routine (Gillis et al., 2024). However, the platform is also rife with misinformation, which can mislead users seeking reliable health advice (O’Sullivan et al., 2022).

Does Physical Activity Help Counteract TikTok's Effects? 🏃‍♂️

Physical activity (PA) may offer a protective effect against the negative impacts of TikTok on sleep. Engaging in regular PA can reduce stress and improve mental health, which in turn can mitigate bedtime procrastination and enhance sleep quality (Zhang et al., 2022). This suggests that incorporating exercise into one's routine could be a beneficial strategy for TikTok users concerned about their sleep.

Is TikTok a Source of Misinformation? 🤔

While TikTok can be a valuable source of information, it is also a platform where misinformation can spread easily. Studies have shown that a significant portion of health-related content on TikTok lacks scientific backing, which can lead to the dissemination of false information (O’Sullivan et al., 2022). This highlights the importance of critically evaluating the content and seeking advice from credible sources.

Can TikTok Reduce Anxiety? 😌

In some contexts, TikTok can have a positive effect by reducing anxiety. For instance, a study found that browsing TikTok for a short period before a medical procedure significantly reduced patients' anxiety levels (Gu et al., 2021). This suggests that while TikTok can have negative effects on sleep, it may also offer benefits in specific situations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, watching TikTok before bed can have mixed effects on sleep and well-being. While it can lead to bedtime procrastination and cognitive arousal, some sleep tips on the platform are evidence-based. Physical activity may help counteract some of the negative impacts, and TikTok can reduce anxiety in certain contexts. However, users should be cautious of misinformation and strive to maintain a balanced approach to their TikTok consumption, especially before bedtime.

References

Miedzobrodzka, E., Du, J., & Van Koningsbruggen, G. (2024). TikTok use versus TikTok self-control failure: Investigating relationships with well-being, academic performance, bedtime procrastination, and sleep quality.. Acta psychologica, 251, 104565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104565

Wang, K., & Scherr, S. (2021). Dance the Night Away: How Automatic TikTok Use Creates Pre-Sleep Cognitive Arousal and Daytime Fatigue. Mobile Media & Communication, 10, 316 - 336. https://doi.org/10.1177/20501579211056116

Gillis, B., VanAntwerp, J., Scott, E., & Peltz, J. (2024). 1093 TikTok Made Me Do It: An Analysis of the Scientific Evidence Supporting TikTok’s Recommendations for Better Sleep. SLEEP. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsae067.01093

Maulida, L., Selviana, S., & Nuzula, F. (2024). Tiktok Social Media Addiction with Bedtime Procrastination. International Journal of Advanced Health Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.35882/ijahst.v4i1.312

O’Sullivan, N., Nason, G., Manecksha, R., & O’Kelly, F. (2022). The unintentional spread of misinformation on 'TikTok'; A paediatric urological perspective.. Journal of pediatric urology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2022.03.001

Gu, S., Ping, J., Xu, M., & Zhou, Y. (2021). TikTok browsing for anxiety relief in the preoperative period: a randomized clinical trial.. Complementary therapies in medicine, 102749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102749

Zhang, X., Feng, S., Peng, R., & Li, H. (2022). Using Structural Equation Modeling to Examine Pathways between Physical Activity and Sleep Quality among Chinese TikTok Users. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095142