Technology advisor at TMB Tech, Akin Ibitoye, has issued a stern warning to Nigerians about the health and safety risks of sleeping with mobile devices under their pillows or beside their beds.

Speaking on the Morning Brief on Channels Television on Monday, Ibitoye highlighted the dangers posed by mobile gadgets, ranging from disrupted sleep patterns to potential explosions caused by overheating lithium-ion batteries.

“Do not sleep with your gadget under your pillow. When you sleep with your devices under your pillow, it actually affects you. You don’t know,” Ibitoye cautioned.

According to him, beyond the popular blue light emissions that interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm, an internal biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles and other physiological processes over a 24-hour period, influenced by light and other environmental cues, the physical presence of a mobile phone in the bedroom can reduce sleep quality, increase irritability, and in extreme cases, pose safety hazards.

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“These gadgets disrupt our circadian rhythm. That’s how, when it’s dark, your body gets the signal it needs to sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, there are quite a number of things that even the medical practitioners have said could result negatively back to your body,” he explained.

He also raised concerns about the psychological effects of constant connectivity, warning against “doomscrolling”; a habit where users go online for a quick check but end up spending hours.

“We spoke about doomscrolling, where you just want to check Instagram for about five minutes, but you end up spending two hours,” he said.

Ibitoye urged Nigerians to return to using alarm clocks instead of relying on their phones to wake up.

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“Before mobile phones, we had alarm clocks. The alarm clock would only sound when the time is right,” he noted, adding that phones attract unnecessary distractions at night with pop-ups and vibrations.

Addressing those who claim they need their phones nearby for work or emergencies, he said, “Unless it’s absolutely tied to your work, you can do without your phone.”

Beyond sleep concerns, Ibitoye warned of physical hazards such as overheating and potential fire risks. He cited past incidents involving phone batteries that exploded due to heat buildup, especially when left under pillows or bedcovers.

“These batteries, lithium-ion batteries, you notice they don’t allow them on airplanes for good reasons. This tiny marvel of technology can explode anytime. If you keep your phone under your pillow, your phone actually gets heated up,” he said.

He referenced a viral video of a woman whose phone exploded while she was making a call.

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“Sleeping with your phone or your tablet under your pillow is actually a huge risk that you do not want to take.”

On the subject of radiation, Ibitoye said that even when a phone appears off, it can still send and receive signals.

“These electromagnetic devices being so close, actually affect the electrical signals in our brain,” he explained, urging frequent phone users to opt for wired or wireless earphones and keep phones away from their heads.

For those living in tight spaces or unable to switch off their phones, Ibitoye advised using airplane mode at night.

“If you cannot afford to switch it off, put it in airplane mode. No call will come in, no SMS, no notification, but your alarm will still go off.”

He concluded with a reminder: “As ubiquitous as technology is, it can be harmful to our bodies with extended usage.”