Let’s be honest: we are all guilty of sleeping with our phones next to us. Whether we like scrolling through dread on social media before bed or need it handy for our alarm in the morning, it’s constantly present. However, a poll found that 50 million Britons admitted to sleeping with their phones, and 74% claimed they couldn’t even leave them outdoors.

Your gadget’s blue light may pose a problem, as it triggers your brain’s wake-up response, hindering your ability to fall asleep and lowering the quality of your sleep. We’ve already discussed the hygienic consequences, or lack thereof, of sleeping with your phone in bed, but what about the scientific portion of it? Mobile phones create electromagnetic fields (EMFs), albeit at low levels, and while there is presently no proof that they have harmful biological effects, some individuals are concerned about long-term health hazards. Those who are concerned about EMFs prefer wired headphones over Bluetooth headphones and, among other things, set their phone to Airplane Mode when not in use.

Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler, MD, has taken to TikTok to educate people on how to prevent EMFs when sleeping with their phone nearby. “If you sleep with your phone by you at night and you’re concerned about the EMF energy to your head, which studies show penetrates more for children than adults,” he got going. The physician continued, “Consider getting a Faraday pouch—this is what I use; there are lots of different brands out there, but putting your phone on airplane mode will not completely block the EMFs like a Faraday pouch.” The purpose of a Faraday pouch is to reduce the impact of electromagnetic fields. One can construct it from a conductive material or a blend of materials. People frequently use them to safeguard their credit cards or car keys from theft.

But he also offered a choice, adding, “If you don’t want to get a pouch, just turn your phone off.” Social media users made comments on Dr. Wachler’s advice. One user asked, “Is this actually a thing?” Another user commented, “This is more relevant for 5G phones, but it’s still good advice.”