What Do You Do With Your Phone at Night? Question Divides Internet

A viral TikTok video has sparked a heated debate about the best time to charge your phone, revealing just how personal this everyday choice can be.

The video, shared by user @whoisindiaeve on January 12, shows a woman staring into her selfie camera as an overlaid text lays out an argument with her sister about charging habits. The post has garnered more than 3.8 million views and thousands of comments, dividing the internet over what has long been considered a mundane detail of modern life.

The overlaid text on the video read: “My sister just told me she never charges her phone overnight and just charges it throughout the day when she needs to and I told her she is the only person in the world that does that. She said that I’m the weird one for charging mine overnight. Please let me know if I’m going crazy or if everyone else charges their phone overnight.”

The caption added to the post—”She’s being absolutely serious y’all help”—only fueled the intrigue.

Amid the flurry of opinions, Newsweek reached out to Seth Geftic, vice president of product marketing at cybersecurity firm Huntress, for a professional perspective on the debate.

Geftic, who has nearly two decades of experience in technology and cybersecurity, acknowledged the convenience of overnight charging but cautioned about its impact on battery health.

“While charging your phone overnight is the most convenient choice—plugging it in before you go to sleep and waking up with a fully charged device—it can slowly degrade your battery’s health over time,” Geftic told Newsweek. “Most modern devices are smart enough to stop charging when they hit 100 percent, but the heat buildup from the extended charging can still wear down the battery.”

Geftic added that charging throughout the day, while less convenient, offers better opportunities to “give the battery breaks” and monitor its condition.

“I like to think of it as a workout,” he said. “You pace yourself instead of going all out so you last longer and feel better in the long run. Touch your phone, and if it is overheating, take it off charge. Be mindful of your device so it lasts as long as possible.”

The response from viewers on TikTok to the post was polarized. Some rushed to defend the practice of overnight charging, citing its convenience, while others raised concerns about battery health, reflecting a broader conversation about technology use and device longevity.

“I thought it was dangerous to leave your phone plugged in over night,” one viewer said.

While another added: “Overnight literally destroys your batteries.”

“I have not once charged my phone overnight because I don’t like the idea of it going 100 percent and then leaving it there for several more hours,” a third viewer said.

As the discussion continues online, Geftic hopes that his advice can serve as a practical guidepost.

“This will really come down to what works best for your schedule,” he said. “However, you need to be mindful of your battery’s health. Whether you are a nighttime charger or a daytime top-up enthusiast, awareness is key.”

Newsweek reached out to @whoisindiaeve for more information via TikTok.

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