Many young adults are experimenting with viral sleep trends like “bed rotting" About 55% of Generation Z says they’ve tried a sleep trend they came across on TikTok and other platforms More people are spending more time in bed, both in the morning and evening, experts said FRIDAY, Aug. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Many young adults are experimenting with “bed rotting” and other sleep trends that have gone viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, a new poll shows. Sleep experts say these trends likely won’t do any immediate harm, but they add that people would do better to see a doctor if they’re not getting adequate nighttime rest.
“It is critical to differentiate whether the reason for experimenting with new ’sleep trends’ is because of existing difficulties with sleep or unsatisfactory wakefulness, as utilizing trends like ‘bed rotting’ may actually worsen the sleep problem you may be experiencing,” said Dr. Anne Marie Morse , a sleep medicine physician for Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania. About 37% of Americans have tried one or more of this year’s viral sleep trends, according to the new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).
Members of Generation Z in particular are experimenting with these trends, with 55% saying they’ve tried at least one. “Bed rotting” has become particularly popular. It involves staying in bed, sometimes for up to a day or more, with hopes of improved rest even as the person engages.