More Americans than ever are afraid of the dark, experts say.

While fear of the dark is most common among children 3-12 years old (affecting nearly 3 out of 4 kids, according to one study) many adults are also prone to fears of darkness. An estimated 11% of adults were already struggling with this fear before the pandemic, and experts say COVID-19 has made matters worse.

More Americans than ever are afraid of the dark, experts say. Here's why.