Americans Take ‘Pillow Talk’ to a Whole New Level

Nearly three-quarters of Americans have an interesting bed mate – their mobile phone.

A full 71 percent of Americans sleep with or next to their phones, according to Bank of America’s recent Trends in Consumer Mobility Report. That takes “staying connected” to a whole new level.

Not surprisingly, younger millennials (ages 18 to 24) are the most likely to sleep with their phone on the bed with them.

If you’re having difficulty falling asleep and you’re one of the many Americans who takes their phone to bed, that could be the problem. Research has shown that the blue light in the backlit screens of electronic devices, especially smaller screens, tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime so it releases less melatonin, a hormone that helps people fall asleep.

The report is based on a survey of 1,000 checking or savings account holders, ages 18 and older, who own a smartphone.

While the majority of respondents (55 percent) said they put their phone on the nightstand, 13 percent said they sleep with their phone on the bed, and 3 percent go to sleep with their phone in their hand.

Here are some other interesting findings from the report:

• Always on and connected: Nearly 9 in 10 respondents said they check their smartphone at least a few times a day. About 36 percent of people said they are constantly checking and using their phone.
• No way to tech vacay: Nearly 4 in 10 people said they never disconnect from their phone, even when on vacation. Just 7 percent of Americans said they completely unplug and enjoy a tech-free vacation.
• Phone dependent: 44 percent of Americans said they couldn’t last a day without their phone.

I don’t sleep anywhere near my phone. I plug it in to charge in the living room before I head to bed. But my husband’s phone is always plugged in and charging on his nightstand while we’re sleeping.

I was off the grid for my brother’s wedding this past weekend. Three days with no cell service was so relaxing. I think an occasional tech timeout may soon be implemented in my household.

Do you take your phone to bed with you? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.