What is brain rot?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by MEMEZAR • MEMES & MEME-CULTURE (@memezar) 

What exactly is brain rot?

The Oxford Dictionary defines brain rot as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.” Translation: all those hours spent watching cat videos and oddly satisfying slime compilations are frying your brain like an egg.

While the term feels decidedly modern, its roots go way back. Fun fact: Brain rot was first coined by none other than Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 book Walden. (Guess he wouldn’t have been a fan of the For You Page.)

Why 2024 was Brain Rot’s year

Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, describes brain rot as the latest chapter in humanity’s ongoing debate about technology’s impact on our lives.

”Looking back at the Oxford Word of the Year over the past two decades, you can see society’s growing preoccupation with how our virtual lives are evolving, the way internet culture is permeating so much of who we are and what we talk about. Last year’s winning word, ‘rizz’, was an interesting example of how language is increasingly formed, shaped, and shared within online communities,” he noted. Apparently, a lot of us agreed—so much so that we voted it to the top spot.

The brainrot has consumed Gordon Ramsey 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/OIxFZfrh2y

— internet hall of fame (@InternetH0F) August 26, 2024

The rise of brain rot as a cultural buzzword ties directly to our increasing reliance on social media and the sheer ubiquity of low-effort, high-entertainment content. (Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives anyone?) Endless scrolling may keep us entertained, but it’s also fuelling concerns about our attention spans, productivity, and mental health.

Competing dictionaries are also embracing the influence of digital life. Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year, manifest, reflects the social media-driven rise of manifestation trends. Meanwhile, Dictionary.com chose demure to highlight a TikTok-driven movement advocating for mindful behavior. Even Collins Dictionary joined the trend with brat, inspired by Charli XCX’s hit album.

Are we doomed?

Not necessarily. While brain rot humorously encapsulates the cultural anxieties of our screen-filled lives, it’s also a wake-up call. Maybe the real takeaway isn’t to quit social media cold turkey, but to balance our binge sessions with things that genuinely enrich our minds—like reading a good book or, dare I say, stepping outside and touching some grass, as the netizens say.

So, the next time you find yourself spiraling into a 2-hour rabbit hole of dog videos, remember: you’re part of a cultural phenomenon. And hey, at least you’re in good company.

Now, excuse me while I check my notifications.