Sleep Disrupted: The Evolving Challenge of Technology on Human Sleep Patterns Over Two Centuries

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between technological innovations enabling mass communication and media over the past two centuries and their disruptive impact on natural human sleep durations and patterns. As the scope of accessibility to artificial illumination, entertainment, information, and communication expanded dramatically thanks to innovations ranging from electric light to the internet and social media, human sleep has become increasingly disrupted. The paper reviews literature on pre-industrial sleep patterns, which aligned human activity with sunrise and sunset, resulting in average sleep durations consonant with innate circadian rhythms. It then examines serial disruptions caused by technologies enabling illumination, audio entertainment, visual media stimulation, and interpersonal communication unbound to solar cycles and normal sleep hours. Beginning in the late 19th century, electric light made nighttime activity and work possible, often at the expense of sleep. The advent first of radio, then television broadcast media and telephony introduced stimuli that competed with and eroded sleep time. While early innovations caused some sleep deprivation, late 20th century digital technologies represent an unprecedented assault on sleep via screens, content and communication drawing users into the late night hours. The rapid proliferation of pagers, mobile phones, and smart devices providing mobile internet access and social media has exponentially intensified the challenge to consistent, adequate sleep. Literature demonstrates this epidemic of sleep loss now results in myriad health consequences, including increased cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, anxiety and depression. Productivity loss, public safety hazards from sleepdeprived workers, and a cultural deprioritization of sleep also characterize modern tech-immersed societies. Policies considering screen use restrictions and education reform emphasizing healthy sleep habits are warranted to restore cultural respect for sleeping adequately to meet hard-wired human sleep needs, which amount to between 7-9 hours nightly for most adults. If left unchecked, the unintended but mounting consequences from chronically sleep-deprived populations will accelerate. Though technological progress brings many advantages, preserving human health and performance obliges cultural adaptation encouraging responsible usage allowing regular, full sleep. The abstract aims to summarize the proposed paper's coverage of successive waves of innovations progressively disrupting sleep cycles and durations. It concludes by underscoring the need for policy and cultural changes addressing this unintended public health challenge accompanying otherwise beneficial tech advancements enabling communication, illumination and access to information and media.