Bed rotting has gone mainstream

Many of us indulge in a day of “bed-rotting” every now and then. For younger generations, it’s becoming less of a guilty pleasure and more of a habit.

According to a recent Morning Consult report, young people are increasingly spending time in bed scrolling social media or streaming shows instead of engaging in more “energetic” or “social” activities. Roughly half of Gen Z (49%) said they bed rot “often” or “sometimes,” and 41% of millennials said the same. 

While not a new term, gaining mainstream traction in late 2023, the act of “bed rotting” describes an entire day spent under the covers, doomscrolling, and avoiding all other responsibilities for as long as possible. 

Its rise coincides with a shift in how young people use the internet, from active to passive. TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts introduced the infinite scroll to our attention spans, making it easier than ever to switch off our brains and cycle through hundreds of short, highly stimulating clips every few minutes in the name of relaxation.

For bed rotters, YouTube comes out on top as the most used and most trusted social platform, according to Morning Consult, as well as the platform Gen Z finds the most fun. Unsurprisingly, X and Facebook both came out at the bottom with Gen Z and millennials. Young people are also adding reading AI-generated search summaries to their bed-rot rotation, the survey found. 

At a time where young people are crashing out at work, reporting high rates of burnout and screen times are higher than ever, with Gen Z spending an average of nine hours a day looking at either a monitor, TV, or phone, it makes sense that many are retreating back under the covers. 

Lying horizontal for hours on end might sound relaxing, but too much time sleeping or spent in bed can end up having the opposite effect. Plenty of research has shown a link between social media use and increased feelings of anxiety and depression, while spending time outdoors with friends, socializing, and creating meaningful connections is the ultimate form of self-care.

A bed rot once in a blue moon is an indulgent treat. Back-to-back bed rotting might indicate a bigger problem at hand.