German TV documentary reveals Gen Z sleep crisis

The German TV documentary "Generation Z – schlaflos" by Y‑Kollektiv author Luisa Dickmänken investigates growing sleep difficulties among Generation Z. Statista data show that 42 % of pupils reported at least weekly problems falling or staying asleep during the 2024/25 school year. The film follows bio‑hacker and TikTok influencer Jan‑Lucca Sielski from Bremen, who has about 20 000 followers and promotes the hashtag “Sleepmaxxing”. Influencers advise a range of dubious hacks – blue‑light filters, mouth‑patches, infrared lamps, vitamin B and C infusions, barefoot training and forest walks – as ways to optimise sleep. Dickmänken tests several of these methods with a medical professional and finds many ineffective or potentially harmful, questioning the safety of the trend. The documentary highlights the scale of the sleep problem and the questionable efficacy of the viral solutions marketed to young people.