More Than Half of U.S. Teens Are on Their Phones in the Middle of the Night

More than half of teenagers in the United States are spending up to an hour or more on their phones between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on school nights, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Experts say the habit is hurting sleep in two ways. Late-night scrolling pushes back the time teens actually fall asleep, and overnight notifications can wake them up repeatedly throughout the night, even when they're not actively on their phones.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends teens get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night, a target that becomes much harder to hit when a phone is within reach after dark.

For families looking to make a change, the Academy suggests building a family media plan that sets clear expectations around screen use. That could mean creating screen-free zones in the house, setting time limits on phone use in the evenings, and planning activities that don't revolve around a device.