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Question:

Is looking at a cell phone up until sleeping going to cause worse sleep?

Scores:

gemini: 9.5 openai: 9 claude: 8.5 cohere: 9.5

Answer:

gemini / gemini-2.5-flash
Score: 9.5
Yes, looking at a cell phone up until sleeping is generally associated with worse sleep. The primary reasons are twofold:\n\nFirstly, cell phone screens emit blue light. This specific wavelength of light is particularly effective at suppressing the body's production of melatonin, a hormone essential for regulating sleep-wake cycles and signaling to the brain that it's time to sleep. Reduced melatonin makes it harder to fall asleep and can shift your natural circadian rhythm.\n\nSecondly, engaging with a cell phone (e.g., scrolling social media, checking emails, playing games) provides mental stimulation. This keeps your brain active and alert, making it difficult to transition into a relaxed state conducive to sleep. The combination of blue light exposure and mental arousal disrupts the natural processes needed for restful sleep, often leading to longer sleep latency and poorer sleep quality. Experts recommend avoiding screens for at least 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Graders:

openai / gpt-4o-mini
Score: 9
The answer accurately addresses the impact of cell phone use on sleep, highlighting the effects of blue light on melatonin production and the mental stimulation from engaging with content. However, it could benefit from mentioning individual variability in sensitivity to blue light and how some people might be less affected. Additionally, while the recommendation to avoid screens 30-60 minutes before bedtime is generally supported, the specific time frame can vary for different individuals based on their tolerance to light and activity levels before sleep.
anthropic / claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929
Score: 8.5
The answer is largely accurate and well-supported by sleep research. Blue light does suppress melatonin production and can affect circadian rhythms, and mental stimulation from phone use does interfere with sleep onset. However, the answer could be more nuanced: (1) While blue light effects are real, some recent research suggests the magnitude may be smaller than initially thought, with psychological arousal potentially being more significant; (2) Individual variation exists—not everyone experiences equal effects; (3) Many modern phones have blue light filters/night modes that may partially mitigate these effects; (4) The 30-60 minute recommendation is reasonable but lacks citation and varies across guidelines. The answer would benefit from acknowledging these complexities while maintaining its generally correct core message.
cohere / command-r-plus-08-2024
Score: 9.5
The answer is comprehensive and accurate, covering the two primary reasons why using a cell phone before sleep can negatively impact sleep quality. The explanation regarding blue light and its effect on melatonin suppression is particularly well-detailed and relevant. The critique, if any, could be that it doesn't mention the potential psychological effects of engaging with social media or other stimulating content before bed, which can also contribute to sleep disturbances. For instance, exposure to stressful or emotionally charged content might lead to increased anxiety or difficulty in 'switching off' the mind, further exacerbating sleep issues. However, this is a minor addition to an already robust answer.
Scores are 0–10. The selected AI’s score is a self-rating.