Why Gen Z can’t sleep in silence

More than a third of Americans can’t sleep in silence, with Gen Zers having the hardest time doing so, according to new research.

An exclusive survey conducted for Newsweek by Talker Research looked at what a regular night of sleep looks like, finding that 38% of respondents rely on white noise or other sounds to help them fall asleep.

The survey, conducted between Nov 2. and Nov. 6, 2024, sampled 1,000 Americans and found that by generation, Gen Z had the highest percentage of respondents who lean on white noise — with nearly half relying on the sounds to sleep (49%).

Millennials (41%) and Gen X (40%) nearly tie behind them for white noise usage, while baby boomers were the least likely to rely on sound aids to help them sleep (32%).

Chelsea Perry, a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and owner of Sleep Solutions, provided insight into the potential connection.

“White noise can be a powerful sleep aid, especially for Gen Z, who are often immersed in a digital environment where silence is scarce,” Perry told Newsweek. “It works by masking background sounds that might otherwise be disruptive and can create a consistent auditory environment that the brain finds relaxing.”

Perry believes this generation’s near-constant immersion in the digital world of smartphones and computer screens has played a key role in the emergence of white noise as an increasingly valuable sleep tool.

“For Gen Z in particular, the dependence on white noise could stem from the high exposure to screens and constant stimulation. Their minds may be more conditioned to need a form of soft noise as a signal to unwind,” Perry said.

“Using white noise might offer a calming transition, helping counteract the overstimulation from phones and other devices.”