According to Meyerson, this could be the result of several factors: “From screen lights disrupting the circadian rhythm to the anticipation of a response.” They also discovered that the users who posted online within an hour of their bedtime were more likely to stay awake for one to three hours afterwards.

Overall, the researchers found that their study “lends additional support to the notion that there likely is some causal effect of evening social media use on delayed sleep onset”.

It’s just yet another reminder that our late-night social media habits are potentially having a knock-on effect on our wellbeing, and it’s certainly something to bear in mind the next time we find our finger hovering over the Instagram app on our home screen after 11pm.

Your late night social media habit has a knock-on effect on your sleep