Social media haunts us even in our dreams

The number of social media users has been rapidly increasing over the last few years, and nowadays it is almost mandatory to be present on these platforms. For many of us, checking our accounts and browsing posts have become an integral part of our daily routine; however, this can increase the risk of developing addiction. Several studies have already concluded that the excessive use of social media can lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality or lower life satisfaction. A recent study published in BMC Psychology has shown that too much online presence correlates to the prevalence of social media related nightmares.

Dream theories claim that the experiences we have during our waking hours return in our sleep; if we spend a lot of time on social media platforms during the day, they may as well re-appear in our dreams. If our mind is occupied with our concerns or bad experiences related to the online world (e.g. cyberbullying or disinformation),

our dreams may acquire a negative emotional charge due to our ensuing anxiety.

595 social media users participated in the research by completing an online survey. All participants were active on at least one platform, i.e. they had spent at least 15 minutes a day online in the month prior to the study. The most frequently used platform was Instagram (87%), followed by Twitter (11%) and Facebook (2%).

The researchers found that although the prevalence of social media related nightmares is rare, they nevertheless correlate with the frequency of internet use. The most common themes in these nightmares are helplessness, loss of control, and damages to online relationships. The article suggests that social media-related nightmares may be associated with poorer sleep quality and lower psychological well-being. The authors warn that such dreams may become more common as technology becomes more embedded in everyday life. To avoid this, the researchers suggest that we should pay attention to the amount and quality of time we spend online, especially in the hour before bedtime.

The research conducted by Ágnes Zsila and her colleagues was reviewed by such prestigious international media sites as the New York Post, the Daily Mail and the Neuroscience News.