‘Night Owls’ More Vulnerable To Social Media Addiction Due To Being ‘Socially Out Of Sync’ And Lonely

Young adults who prefer staying up late at night are far more likely to develop problematic smartphone and social media habits, and a new study suggests it isnt just about screen time, its about loneliness and anxiety.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K., working with the University of Surrey, found that so-called “night owls” often use phones and social media to cope with emotional discomfort. Instead of relief, however, these coping mechanisms can trap them in cycles of dependency that worsen their distress.

“Our findings point to a vicious cycle,” said Anna-Stiina Wallinheimo, PhD, of Portsmouths School of Psychology, Sport, and Health Sciences. “Young adults who are naturally more active in the evening often find themselves socially out of sync, which may lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Many then turn to smartphones and social media to cope, but unfortunately, these tools can make things worse, not better.”

Problematic smartphone use is defined by behaviors such as compulsively checking notifications, neglecting responsibilities in favor of phone use, and experiencing anxiety when separated from ones device. Social media addiction is similarly marked by excessive, uncontrolled usage that interferes with daily life.

The study published in PLOS One, described as the first of its kind, surveyed 407 young adults ages 18 to 25, measuring how circadian preferences (sleep-wake timing) relate to problematic smartphone and social media use. Using validated psychological scales, the researchers identified loneliness and anxiety as the key mediating factors between “eveningness” and technology addiction.

“This research fills a crucial gap in the literature,” Wallinheimo said. “While weve known that night owls are more vulnerable to problematic technology use, we havent understood why. Now we can see that emotional factors — especially loneliness — are playing a significant role.”

Nearly 40 percent of U.K. students already show signs of social media addiction, according to researchers, with young women particularly at risk. Past studies have linked being a night owl to poor sleep quality, depression, and addictive behaviors, but this is the first to tie those outcomes directly to emotional struggles.

“These young people arent using technology just because its available,” Wallinheimo said. “Theyre using it to try to soothe emotional discomfort. The tragedy is that it often deepens their distress instead.”

With youth anxiety, depression, and isolation at historic levels, the researchers say prevention efforts must go beyond urging young people to reduce screen time. The authors argue that targeted education and support systems are urgently needed for students and other young adults, who may not realize their natural sleep patterns are tied to higher risks of problematic phone and social media use.

“Rather than simply telling young people to spend less time on their phones, we need to address the reasons behind their usage,” said Simon Evans, PhD, of the University of Surrey. “That means providing effective strategies to manage loneliness and anxiety — particularly during late evening hours when support services are limited, and feelings of isolation can be most intense.”