Smartphone addiction means seven in 10 people sleep next to their phone – but there are hidden health risks
Charlotte Smith Senior Lifestyle Content Editor
05:00, 27 Sep 2025
Is sleeping next to your phone bad for your health?(Image: Getty)
Mobile phone users across the country have been issued a crucial warning about ‘hidden’ dangers they may be encountering without even knowing it. This comes as online searches for “how to deal with phone addiction” have rocketed by 5000% over the past 30 days.
Research reveals that 25% of people globally suffer from “smartphone addiction”, with many bringing their devices into workplaces, schools, bathrooms and even bedrooms. More than seven in 10 people are sleeping with their phones beside them (71%), which represents a significant dependency that carries ‘hidden’ health risks.
With this concern in mind, Martin Seeley, senior sleep specialist and founder of MattressNextDay, has exposed the ‘hidden’ health dangers of sleeping beside your phone, and taking your phone into the bathroom, reports the Mirror. He also consulted Dr Hana Patel to determine whether phones genuinely cause cancer.
Does sleeping beside your phone pose health risks?
Countless people place their phones beneath pillows, on mattresses, and on bedside tables while sleeping. Because phones are continuously in close contact with them, there has been an ongoing debate about whether they can trigger cancer through radiation exposure. Sleep specialists from MattressNextDay consulted Dr Hana Patel to discover whether phones genuinely cause cancer.
Dr Patel, NHS GP and GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness, dispels this myth, explaining: “Cell phones emit radiation in the radiofrequency region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Second-, third-, and fourth-generation cell phones (2G, 3G, 4G) emit radiofrequency in the frequency range of 0.7–2.7 GHz. Fifth-generation (5G) cell phones are anticipated to use the frequency spectrum up to 80 GHz.
Research has found minimal risk of phones causing cancer
“These frequencies all fall in the non-ionising range of the spectrum, which is low frequency and low energy. The energy is too low to damage DNA. Researchers have carried out several types of population studies to investigate the possibility of a relationship between cell phone use and the risk of tumours, both malignant (cancerous) and nonmalignant (noncancerous).
“Four large epidemiologic studies have examined the possible association between cell phone use and cancer: The findings of these studies are mixed, but overall, they do not show an association between cell phone use and cancer.”
It’s common knowledge that excessive smartphone use can drastically affect sleep quality, but having your phone in the bedroom can exacerbate the problem. Sleeping with your phone can lead to sleep fragmentation, as unnoticed notifications and vibrations can cause micro-arousals. These are brief periods of wake-like brain activity lasting three to 15 seconds during sleep, identified by changes in EEG frequency.
More than seven in 10 people sleep with their phones next to them
Fragmented sleep diminishes overall sleep quality and can even prevent you from reaching the restorative deep sleep and REM stages. The effects of fragmented sleep often manifest the next day with morning grogginess, even after a full eight hours of sleep—not all sleep is good quality.
Exposure to blue light from phones can suppress melatonin, the sleep hormone that signals to your body it’s time for bed. This can have a domino effect and cause a delayed circadian rhythm, making your body think it’s still daytime – this doesn’t immediately correct itself once the phone is put away.
Martin Seeley, Senior sleep expert and founder of MattressNextDay, explained: “We recommend limiting screen time before bed. Try turning off screens at least 30-60 minutes before bed to help your body produce melatonin, otherwise known as the sleep hormone, which can be suppressed by the blue light emitted from screens. Swapping screens for pages and reading before bed can ease stress, improve sleep quality, relieve insomnia, and promote longer sleep duration.”
Studies suggest that people who regularly use their smartphones during nighttime hours face elevated levels of anxiety and depression. The sleep disruptions, including diminished REM sleep and sleep fragmentation triggered by blue light and notifications, can also impact mental well-being.
This can result in compromised emotional regulation and increased emotional reactivity, where minor stressors can feel insurmountable. It can also lead to struggles with controlling emotions and even weakened social cognition, with diminished capacity to read social signals and show empathy.
Can phones cause fires?
Mobile devices can overheat when placed beneath pillows or suffer damage from tumbling off beds and through mattresses, all of which pose fire hazards. As many as 74% of people charge their mobiles in their bedrooms, frequently overnight, and one survey revealed that more than one in ten (11%) people charge their devices beneath their pillow.
With the escalating cost of living, people are resorting to purchasing unofficial phone chargers. Many of these chargers fail to comply with safety regulations, leading to potential fire hazards, injuries, and electric shocks.
Masses of people will take their phone with them into the bathroom
Are mobiles a breeding ground for germs?
Mobile phones are among the filthiest household items. Many people carry their phones into lavatories, on public transport, and other bacteria-ridden areas. A study disclosed that only 63.4% of people wash their hands after using a public toilet.
The NHS GP and sleep expert say it’s hardly shocking that scientists have discovered that your mobile phone can be 10 times more contaminated than a toilet seat. Harmful organisms such as Salmonella, norovirus, staph, gonorrhoea, influenza, rhinovirus, and faecal bacteria like E. coli can potentially taint your phone and subsequently your bed.
People interact with their phones numerous times daily, transferring germs from their hands and the environment onto the device. The warmth and moisture generated by the battery, heat, and saliva create an ideal breeding ground for microbes. Using phones in locations such as bathrooms exposes them to faecal bacteria, which can subsequently be passed onto food and other surfaces. Many people fail to clean their phones regularly, leading to a buildup of germs over time.
How can you minimise the risks?
Keep your mobile a few feet away from your bed or even in a different room.Avoid charging your phone overnight or using unofficial chargers.Utilise “Do Not Disturb” or “Night Mode” to mute notifications.Refrain from using your phone 30–60 minutes before bedtime.Use a traditional alarm clock instead of your phone to wake up.
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