10 Things You Should Know About Brain Rot

Snuggled up in bed, lights off, a long day behind you and a long day ahead of you, very little sounds better than turning your brain off and zoning out until your eyes start to droop and your thumbs start to slip and twitch, accidentally hitting questionable "likes" while you fall asleep. It's almost like coming home from a hard day's work just to kill a couple of hours in front of the TV before bed...right?

Well, there's actually some debate surrounding this. While some experts say there is little difference between consuming social media and other forms of escapism, other experts say that the effects of too much social media can be harmful.

What is too much social media, though?

With buzzwords like Brain Rot and Bed Rot zipping around YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X, it's easy to wonder if maybe, just maybe, we've found that tipping point.

What is Brain Rot though?

Brain Rot is a term used to describe the over-consumption, sometimes chronic obsession with mindless, short-form media. Once brain rot might have been defined to include media like reality television, tabloid magazines, or pulp fiction novels. Now, however, brain rot can include 30 seconds snippits of those same reality television clips on your phone, six inches away from your face, AI -generated voices reading out "fun celebrity facts" while showing a 10 second medley of paparazzi photos, or minute-long thirst-traps, promising you to just "wait til the end of the video." In its most terrifying form, we get brain rot like the Skibidi Toilet series or Cocomelon.

So how do we find the balance between giving our brains a much-needed rest and letting it rot entirely? And more importantly, does it matter?

Although there is still much debate on "brain rot" and its place in society, here are 10 things you should know about brain rot before spending that extra hour (or four) scrolling in bed.

1. "Brain Rot" was named Oxford Dictionary's 2024 Word of the Year.

2. Symptoms of brain rot include: difficulty with concentration, memory problems, reduced problem-solving skills, impaired judgment, mood swings, difficulty learning new information, and slowed thought processes.

3. The first recorded use of the word brain rot was in 1854 written in Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

4. There is some debate as to whether or not brain rot actually exists, or if it is a projection of society's anxieties surrounding social media and the internet.

5. Some people intentionally seek out brain rot.

6. The term brain rot does not refer to the brain's literal decomposition, although there are speculations about over-consumption of social media's effects on the amygdala in youth.

7. The Food and Beverage Industry has been affected by brain rot and bed rot, as it's harder to get people to come out and socialize at restaurants and bars.

8. Arguments in favor of bed rot and brain rot say that these trends are a societal response to burnout. Many argue that this phenomenon is not new and that we have often found ways to "rot" over the years, through television or video games, and that escaping through social media shouldn't be seen any differently.

9. Some people might associate brain rot with ADD or ADHD, however, this is a misconception.

10. Things you can do to prevent brain rot include: reading, going outside, talking on the phone or in person with friends and family, engaging in long-form content like podcasts, stories, or articles, learning a new skill, limit multi-taking, and engaging with hobbies.

With mental health struggles on the rise, concerns about literacy in North America, fewer independently-owned restaurants, talks of Millenials and Gen Z never owning homes, and a loneliness epidemic, it's hard not to see Oxford's Word of the Year as a stark reflection of that burnout and desire to escape. When we look at the economy and the average person's ability to spend money on a night out at dinner, going to the movies, or even to cover the cost of the Uber ride downtown though, is it any wonder that young people are looking for cheap and accessible ways to pass the time?

Personally, I don't so. I do think, as adult creators on the Internet though, it would be nice if we could create something more than just "brain rot" for them to enjoy.

Where do you land in the brain rot discussion? Do you think it's harmful? Do you think it's real? Is this article brain rot? I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments below!