Digital sleep solutions: The world of sleep tech and its socioeconomic impact

The growing significance of sleep health is reflected in the global insomnia industry, which is expected to reach an astounding US$6.3 billion by 2030.

The emergence of sleep aids, such as sleep apps, which are the newest craze, together with an increase in diagnoses and therapeutic interventions are all responsible for this market boom, as indicated by expert social health researcher Deborah Lupton.

In an article published in The Conversation, Lupton shows that income and education are linked to the quality of sleep.

The globe has seen a surge in the number of digital tools and apps designed to enhance the quality of sleep. Utilising wearable technology—such as wristbands and smartwatches—as well as the digitisation of the "quantified self," technology is being used to track and improve sleep quality. But the digital world is more than just gathering data. According to Lupton, sleep enthusiasts have ventured into the virtual world with sleep-related podcasts, blogs, and interesting material on sites like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

Influencers who share their views on improving sleep quality are a common sight in the internet era. Dedicated forums such as Reddit and specialist sleep improvement programs provide a venue for people who have trouble falling asleep to get support and help from these online communities.

Yet, the marriage of technology and sleep is not without its drawbacks. Lupton highlights a worrisome trend: the more one obsesses over the pursuit of better sleep, the harder it becomes to achieve it. Sleep-tracking apps and wearable devices, while well-intentioned, can lead to an unhealthy fixation on the metrics they generate. Moreover, the accuracy and utility of data collected from digital devices may not hold for the older population. Some young users report feeling worse after relying on sleep apps, revealing the complexity of this relationship, as indicated in the report.

Beyond individual worries, data privacy problems are significant, with some developers failing to sufficiently secure the private data produced by smart sleep devices and applications. An inherent risk layer to this complex equation is the connection between using digital devices before bed and sleep issues, according to Lupton.

Critics argue that the constant emphasis on sleep ignores the unpleasant fact that some people will never be able to achieve their goal of getting a decent night's sleep. Lupton claims that people who reside in noisy or subpar homes frequently don't have the control to improve their sleeping circumstances. As pointed out in The Conversation, a lot of the advice centres on individual accountability and assumes that people can easily get the newest sleep technologies or change their surroundings.