Dangerous Dreams: Inside the Internet\’s Sleepmaxxing Craze

Unverified Sleep‑Hacking Trend Sparks Safety Alarm

“Sleepmaxxing”—a viral movement that touts mouth taping, eye masks, rope‑assisted neck swinging, and weighted blankets—has proliferated on TikTok, X, and other social‑media platforms. Although the practices claim to optimise sleep quality, experts note that most are unsubstantiated and may pose health risks.

Rising Popularity Amid Content‑Moderation Backlash

• Twitter posts and TikTok videos exceed 11 million views, underscoring how social media can legitimize unproven, harmful techniques.
• Platform scaling back moderation has amplified the trend’s visibility.

Suspicious “Insomnia Hacks” Whats‑App‑Style

• Neck‑Hanging—people swing in a rope or belt. A Chinese state broadcaster linked the routine to a fatality last year.
• Mouth Taping—insurers claim it encourages nasal breathing, reduces snoring, and improves oral health. A study by George Washington University found the claims unverified and cautioned that the practice could endanger sleep‑apnea patients.
• Blue‑Tinted Glasses, Red‑Tinted Glasses, Weighted Blankets, and Two Kiwis Before Bed—all fall under the same umbrella of unfounded sleep‑maxxing tricks.

Experts Warn of “Orthosomnia” and the Paradox of Perfection Pressures

Britain‑based insomnia specialist Kathryn Pinkham cautions that people with chronic insomnia may experience increased anxiety and stress when the trend urges rigid sleep routines. “The more we try to control sleep with hacks or rigid routines, the more vigilant and stressed we become—paradoxically making sleep harder,” Pinkham notes.

Harvard Medical School’s Eric Zhou points out that the pressure to achieve “perfect” sleep is unstable, as even good sleepers vary from night to night. “Setting perfection as your goal is problematic,” Zhou says.

Commercialization, Legal Concerns, and the Placebo Effect

• Sleepmaxxing influencers sell products such as mouth tape, “sleep‑enhancing drink powders,” and “sleepmax gummies” containing melatonin. In Britain, melatonin is prescription‑only; unauthorized sales may violate local regulations.
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises against melatonin use for adult insomnia, citing inconsistent evidence on effectiveness.
• Placebo effect challenges the reliability of reports, where individuals feel real improvement after consuming a fake or nonexistent treatment because of their beliefs.

Conclusion

While sleep quality remains a cornerstone of health, unverified sleepmaxxing practices could encourage orthosomnia and increase anxiety around sleep, especially for those with actual sleep problems. Health experts recommend evidence‑based treatments over unproven hacks and urge caution when adopting new sleep routines.