Nigerians have been warned about the serious health and safety risks of sleeping with mobile devices under pillows or beside their beds. Technology advisor at TMB Tech, Akin Ibitoye, shared these concerns during an appearance on The Morning Brief on Channels Television.
“Do not sleep with your gadget under your pillow,” Ibitoye said. “When you sleep with your devices under your pillow, it actually affects you. You don’t know.”
He explained that phones emit blue light, which disrupts the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm helps the body know when to sleep and wake up. When disrupted, it can lead to poor sleep quality, irritability, and other health issues.
Ibitoye also warned of the psychological effects of “doomscrolling” — the habit of spending long hours on social media or news apps, especially before bed. “You want to check Instagram for five minutes, but you end up spending two hours,” he said.
He advised people to use alarm clocks instead of phones to avoid night-time distractions. “Phones keep buzzing and lighting up. It disturbs your sleep,” he said.
On a more serious note, Ibitoye highlighted the danger of overheating. He mentioned lithium-ion batteries in phones, which can become dangerously hot when trapped under pillows. In extreme cases, they may explode.
“These batteries are not allowed on planes for a reason. If you keep your phone under your pillow, it actually gets heated up. It’s a huge risk,” he cautioned.
Ibitoye also spoke about radiation and electromagnetic signals. He warned that phones—even when not in use—can affect brain activity if kept too close during sleep. He suggested using earphones for calls and placing phones away from the head. For those who cannot turn off their phones at night, airplane mode is a safer option.
“As ubiquitous as technology is, it can be harmful to our bodies with extended usage,” Ibitoye concluded.
