We’re spoiled for choice when it comes to social media apps and websites. So if our favourite platform were to shut down for bedtime, there’s not much stopping us from just hopping onto the next one. But one company wants to give websites the option anyway.
nightnight.みんな (みんな is Japanese for "everyone") is a simple line of code that allows website owners to put their websites to sleep at bedtime, encouraging users to go to bed – a smarter option when it comes to health, wellbeing, and happiness.
Its creators, Japanese “happiness” company Masamichi Souzou and London-based speculative design firm Neeley Worldwide believe it’s the universal responsibility of web-makers to provide their users with healthier options.
“One of these negative impacts of websites is when their use gets in the way of people’s sleep. Sleep debt is a major problem in the western world, and has a lot of negative global health impacts,” reads nightnight’s website. “Helping others get enough sleep is one of the best things you can do to improve their quality of life!”
Not getting enough sleep can lead to sleep debt or sleep deficit, a condition that results in mental and physical fatigue. Studies show that people with a large sleep debt have the cognitive performance of a drunk person.
To help users achieve the prescribed number of sleep hours, nightnight users can simply install a line of code into their website’s programming. The instructions are available for free online.
It works anywhere in the world and in any timezone by checking the time on the website visitor’s computer.
