Viral claim questions 8-hour sleep norm; historical context revealed

A viral social media post claims that the concept of sleeping eight hours a day is a myth created by a mattress company in 1938 for business expansion, and that humans historically slept in two phases. While the post mixes historical facts with misinformation, research indicates that the eight-hour sleep recommendation is rooted in the labor rights movement of the 19th century, not a marketing ploy. The idea of segmented sleep, known as 'first sleep' and 'second sleep,' was indeed common before widespread electrification, with people waking for a period in the middle of the night. However, the claim about a mattress company fabricating research is unsubstantiated.

This debunks a popular myth about sleep, providing accurate historical context and highlighting the importance of evidence-based information over viral claims.