Light exposure, particularly blue light from device screens, disrupts melatonin secretion. The Panda Lab’s findings indicate that even low light levels (10–50 lux) can suppress melatonin release, with higher levels (100–300 lux) causing significant or complete cessation. A candle light at 1 meter distance is 1 lux.

The increased light exposure of handheld devices, coupled with the shift in viewing habits—whereby a substantial percentage of individuals consume content on digital screens in bed—creates a direct and sustained exposure to powerful artificial light during a period when the body is naturally preparing for sleep.

Traditional lullabies have long served as a gentle means to soothe individuals into sleep, primarily by providing a calming external focus that distracts from internal mental activity. In the contemporary context, the smartphone has inadvertently become a modern-day equivalent for many adults, offering a wide selection of distractions to during sleep onset latency.