Toilet Scrolling: Experts Warn of Hidden Health Risks Linked to Smartphones
It’s a habit many won’t admit to, but most are guilty of it, scrolling through your phone while perched on the loo. New research now suggests this seemingly harmless pastime could have serious consequences for your health.
A study from Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre has raised the alarm, linking restroom scrolling to a 46 per cent advanced threat of developing haemorrhoids.
Haemorrhoids, frequently described as blown or lit modes in and around the rectum and anus, can bring misery, pain, itching and indeed bleeding.
Though generally manageable, they can come severe enough to shoot millions to the croaker or exigency room each time.
In the US alone, the condition racks up nearly four million medical visits and an eye-watering healthcare bill of more than $800 million annually.
“We’re still uncovering the many ways smartphones and our modern way of life impact our health. It’s possible that how and where we use them—such as while in the bathroom, can have unintended consequences,” – Dr. Trisha Pasricha, Beth Israel
STUDY: SCROLLING ON THE TOILET CAN LEAD TO A REAL PAIN THE…
Researchers in Boston found that people who admitted to scrolling on ‘the bowl’ were 46-percent more likely to have hemorrhoids than people who didn’t. pic.twitter.com/52xnJv0DuT
— BEYOND THE BLOCK (@B3YONDTHEBLOCK) September 4, 2025
The study revealed that those glued to their phones in the bathroom were five times more likely to spend longer than five minutes sitting on the toilet compared with those who left their devices behind.
The extra sitting time is what appears to increase pressure on the veins in the rectal area, sparking haemorrhoids.
What are people doing while in there? Mostly catching up on the news and endlessly scrolling social media feeds.
And many admit they lose track of time. Half of all smartphone users confessed they sit on the toilet longer than planned, simply because of their devices.
It’s not a small-scale problem. Americans, on average, spend over four hours a day on their smartphones, according to Harmony Healthcare IT.
The survey behind the latest findings noted that this adds up to about two full days each year spent on the toilet with a phone in hand.
The research, which involved 125 adults undergoing colonoscopy screening, asked participants to detail their toilet habits.
Doctors then assessed whether they showed signs of haemorrhoids. The results painted a clear picture dragged sitting linked to phone use equals an advanced threat.
Scrolling through TikTok or Instagram while on the latrine might feel like an inoffensive way to pass the time, but health professionals say it’s worth redefining.
The lure of a smartphone extends toilet time well beyond what’s necessary, and in doing so, quietly piles pressure on our bodies.
The findings highlight a strange but telling reality of 21st-century life: technology habits are shaping not just our minds, but also our physical health.
So, next time nature calls, experts suggest leaving the phone behind. A short break from scrolling could save you from more painful problems down the line.
