A new report has revealed how children and teenagers who have access to smartphones and tablets during the night can develop serious sleeping problems, causing them to be less alert during daytime regardless of whether or not they use their devices in the daytime.

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This report is based on 20 past studies about kids and portable media usage around bedtime, revealing that they are more than twice as likely have shorter sleep schedules as opposed to children who do not use them at night. This is also applicable to kids who have mobile devices but do not use them during the night.

According to the lead author of the study, Ben Carter from the King's College London, a lot of people claim that the light emission of these devices causes sleep disruption. However, this new study shows that even if you are not using them at night, the near presence of these devices can also affect sleep habits.

This report is based on past studies of 125,000 children from six to 19 years old that are exposed to these media devices like smartphones and tablets but excluded television and laptops which are also sources of electromagnetic radiation.

 Bedtime media usage is often linked to sleep problems and insomnia leading to poor daytime functioning that is caused by sleepiness. This can also ultimately cause less than 10 hours of sleep in children.

Results reveal that kids with bedtime access at least three times a week in their bedrooms receive poorer sleep quality and quantity as opposed to kids that have less or no access at all to these devices.

Carter added that device use also has major benefits. However, it is crucial to recognize the negative effects and consequences of constant exposure to portable media.

Researchers strongly suggest that devices should be programmed to be in sleep mode or switched off in certain hours. Lack of sleep has been linked to health issues such as dementia.

This new study was published in the journal, JAMA Pediatrics.