LONDON, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Millions of Britons are losing sleep because they are updating or checking status updates on Facebook or tweeting, a survey indicated.
The study commissioned by Travelodge hotels surveyed 6,000 adults in Britain and found 72 percent spend their time in bed before falling asleep updating or checking their friends' status updates on Facebook.
In fact, 20 percent of Britons said they stopped midway during lovemaking with their partner to check on an incoming text message.
This time spent social networking is affecting Britons' sleep quota, the study said. On average, respondents reported they are getting just 6 hours and 21 minutes sleep per night -- 1 hour and 39 minutes below the recommended quota of 8 hours of sleep per night.
Michael Hastings, an expert in sleep patterns and body clocks and a research scientist for the Medical Research Council at Addenbrooke's Hospital, part of the Cambridge University Hospitals, said from a sleep point of view, this news is not good at all as it's having a huge negative effect on people's sleep.
"Adults don't realize what impact using computers, cellphones and other gadgets before falling sleep is having on their night's sleep. Being exposed to bright light from computer and cellphone screens while in bed completely delays the brain and body's ability to get to sleep."
As a result, people are not able to get to sleep as quickly as they should and aren't getting the required amount of sleep they need each night, Hastings said.
No survey details were provided.
