Journal of Global Communication

Humans are naturally circadian beings, with various physiological, mental, and behavioral rhythms driven by biological clocks. Additionally, as social creatures, externally imposed elements such as job schedules and social engagements often disrupt our internal circadian timings. Digital connectivity further exacerbates these disruptions, introducing additional social constraints that can misalign our body clocks. Social jetlag arises when biological and social time are out of sync, negatively affecting physical and mental well-being. It significantly impacts neurobehavioral and sleep processes. This paper examines the findings of an online survey on social jetlag and its association with screen time. It explores how artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms influence the use of various digital gadgets. The study also investigates the role of social media in disrupting the circadian cycle and sleep patterns. Analysis of the relationship between biological cycles and technology-facilitated social interactions revealed that technology can alter circadian rhythms. The research found that using social networking sites before sleep, influenced by AI-driven algorithms, disrupted respondents’ sleep patterns, reduced sleep duration, and contributed to social jetlag. The study also examines changes in attention, cognitive function, and sleep-related behaviors. Most respondents acknowledged that AI algorithms contribute to prolonged social media use. The findings reveal that habitual social media usage among working professionals fosters dependency on digital technology, increasing the prevalence of social jetlag.