The way we emotionally engage with social media may have a greater impact on sleep quality than the total time we spend online, says this assistant professor of psychology. HARTFORD, Connecticut: “Avoid screens before bed” is one of the most common pieces of sleep advice. But what if the real problem isn’t screen time − it’s the way we use social media at night? Sleep deprivation is one of the most widespread yet overlooked public health issues, especially among young adults and adolescents.