As many other people my age – early twenties – I would argue I am somewhat addicted to the internet. My screen time on my phone alone, over the past week was on average 4 hours and 50 minutes, that is a lot. But I don’t think that this is very unusual in this day and age. Almost five consistent hours sounds like a lot but if you sprinkle it throughout the day, you realise how quickly it adds up. And to be completely honest these hours are not even counting the time I use on my computer.
My phone is usually the first thing I reach for in the morning and the last thing I put away at night. Sometimes it will even “sleep” in the bed next to me. It is always within reach. Having my phone so close at all times also almost eliminates all boredom. Constant entertainment within reach. Listening to podcasts or music while walking to the train, grocery store or any other errands. Even at home watching or listening while cooking or doing other household chores.
So when I turn in for the night, turning off lights and jumping into my bed, it can seem very empty suddenly. No distractions, only darkness. This is when the swarm of thoughts begin. All embarrassing moments I have ever had spring to the foreground of my thoughts. The stress of tomorrow starts to press. This is when I turn on my phone and start my scrolling of instagram, distracting myself. Hoping I will be so tired I can just fall asleep while on Instagram. But I have now found my newest solution to this: sleepy ASMR. I wish I could just put my phone away, have some patience, count sheep and fall asleep, but I have accepted that it just does not work for me. Instead I go to the page of creators on instagram, so called asmr artist.
ASMR is defined by the cambridge dictionary as an: abbreviation for autonomous sensory meridian response: a pleasant tingling feeling that some people experience on their skin, especially on the head and neck, especially when they hear certain soft sounds such as whispering or brushing:
ASMR artists then are the creators who make videos making these sounds. There is a lot of variety in content, and different creators specialize in different things, some are very focused on eating or mouth sounds, others will tap or interact with objects, other videos are made in a way where they pretend to touch your face/hair, while creating sounds off screen. Especially this last one makes me feel very at peace, it draws my attention, and breaks me away from the doom scrolling of social media, and gives me a sensory experience that I would describe as very calming.
A screenshot from a video from the creator @sleep-asmrtist posted on september 8 2025.
I think I would argue this is more a quick fix, and is not really treating the root of my problem: my own discomfort with being alone with my thoughts. And I can’t really explain why ASMR has such a calming effect on me, but what I can say is I am not the only one. Some of these creators have millions of followers that are engaging eagerly with their content. This sensory aspect of sound did not start on social media. I think the digital soundscape of ASMR can in many ways be linked to music or to our enjoyment of nature sounds. Walking in nature and hearing nature has long been an enjoyment of many people. The quietness of the woods, making space for the different more quiet sounds of nature, stand in great contrast to the everyday life of a busy city center. Especially for me the sounds of waves and their rhythm gives me a great sense of peace. I remember as a child holding up seashells to my ear, and listening to “ocean”. Maybe one could argue this way is a precursor to asmr? Distracting me and letting me be in the magic world of sound. But instead of seashells I today find the same enjoyment in my phone speaker.
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