Brain Rot: The Groundbreaking New Word in the Social Media and Mental Health World

We all know that we have felt it, at some point or the other; you know, that niggling, noxious feeling we get when we know we’ve been online a little too long. The head feels heavier, the eyes feel drier, and it is almost as if your brain actually hurts.

Well, now it has an official name: Brain rot.

According to the language experts at Oxford Dictionary, brain rot has been proven to be a real thing, and this is why they chose it as the official ‘word of the year’ for 2024, in recognition of the growing, toxic relationship between social media and mental health.

The Oxford team crowned it as a new official term out of a shortlist of other top new words used in 2024 that reflected the moods and conversations that helped shape the past year. Oxford now officially defines brain rot as the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material, particularly online content considered to be trivial or unchallenging.

While in most circles, this term is used humorously, it actually highlights some serious concerns about mental health linked to technology use. Studies indicate that excessive usage of smartphones leads to high levels of anxiety and lower concentration levels over time.

With the growing tendency of people to entertain themselves or perform their work tasks with screens, this now applies to most of us because of our over-reliance on these devices, which have become more or less a third hand for most of us.

Needless to say, understanding the implications of this new phenomenon is vital for fostering mindful interaction with digital devices for better mental well-being.

The History of The Term Brain Rot

To choose the winning word that encapsulated the year 2024, Casper Grathwol, Oxford’s President of Languages, said: “We reviewed a snapshot of the topics that have caught our interest and imagination and kept us talking.”

He also said, “Our experts noticed that ‘brain rot’ gained new prominence this year (2024) as a term used to capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media. The term increased usage frequency by 230% between 2023 and 2024.”

He added that what was particularly unique about this year’s selection was that the nominated words were all associated with bygone eras that have slid back into public consciousness. When we look back at the origin of the term brain rot, it has a fascinating history.

1800s

The first recorded use of brain rot can be traced to 1854 from American author, Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden. It contained his reflections on simple living in natural surroundings and details Thoreau’s experiment in self-sufficiency, as he spent just over two years in a cabin he built near Walden Pond.

Thoreau criticizes the tendency of society to belittle complex ideas or those open to multiple interpretations in favor of simplism as a sign of a general depreciation of mental and intellectual work, as he writes in this quote:

“While England endeavors to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavor to cure the brain rot – which prevails so much more widely and fatally?”

The early 2000s

As the Oxford team correctly points out, brain rot only recently gained common usage again in the early 2000s, mainly in online communities and social media as a slang expression of how constant digital engagement could diminish mental clarity and, with it, overall productivity among users.

Initially popularized by gamers, in this new-age context, brain rot refers to the perceived dulling of intellect after prolonged exposure to fast-paced video games or binge-watching shows. The phrase, having spread like wildfire on the internet, soon evolved from a term used by gamers and became a broader commentary on modern society’s struggle with attention spans amid relentless content consumption.

2010s till now

In academic circles, researchers have begun to seriously study brain rot as part of discussions surrounding media effects on cognition, including the relationship between social media and mental health.

They are examining how different forms of entertainment impact one’s ability to retain memory and are considering possible long-term implications that may result from extended exposure to the kind of diverting visual stimuli typical in today’s multimedia environment.

Research has shown that almost 60% of adults consider information overload on the internet overwhelming. With increased use of technology, mental clarity, which can only be achieved by restricting screen time, is crucial for optimal cognitive health. That said, can the brain really “rot” in the true sense of the word?

The Impact of Screen Time on Cognitive Functioning

Recent findings provide alarming evidence of the connection between device usage and this brain rot phenomenon. A survey conducted by Nielsen indicated that Americans collectively spend an average of about eleven hours a week watching videos across different platforms.

Shockingly, as many as 40% complain of poor concentration without periodic detox from the phone. This highlights how developing balanced media habits in a world full of digital diversions is now quite pressing if we are serious about our minds’ well-being.

The blue light from those screens greatly interferes with sleeping patterns, which are very important for the brain to work effectively. It may also impair cognitive functioning, especially among children. Decreasing daily exposure may improve concentration and help to create a healthy learning environment. Parents are encouraged to engage children in non-screen activities for balanced brain development.

Let’s have a look at what this over-exposure to screens is really doing to our brains with each passing day.

The Long-Term Side Effects of Brain Rot

• Long-term neurodegeneration affects daily functioning, causing increased anxiety and levels of despair. This affects emotional stability, complicating daily decision-making processes.
• Prolonged deterioration of the brain usually leads to loss of memory, which can be a factor in low recall and problem-solving capacity.
• Prolonged mental inactivity causes severe cognitive decline and, over time, emotional disturbances that affect personal relationships.
• Continuous mental fatigue may lead to increased anxiety levels and reduced well-being.
• Chronic neurodegeneration often leads to low motivation, and over time, it affects productivity.
• Sustained cognitive impairment may increase the chances of severe mood disorders later in life.
• Chronic neurodegeneration often leads to a lack of motivation, influencing productivity over time.
• Sustained cognitive impairment may increase the vulnerability to severe mood disorders later in life.
• Chronic states of sadness may lead to long-term alterations in neurocircuits that harm behavior.
• Cognitive impairment generally leads to social isolation, which negatively impacts interpersonal relationships over time.

I guess that settles it, and it’s clear to see just how much decay we are causing to the most important part of our bodies, the brain.

Managing technology use is important for our mental well-being, but if the truth be told, many of us are way beyond the point of simple self-help. This love-hate relationship that exists between social media and mental well-being needs practical strategies to create healthier boundaries with devices.

A great outlet to make way for responsible tech consumption is therapy. Therapy empowers us to regain focus and creativity, often lost in the streams of information. Expert guidance offers clients effective strategies that develop a more balanced lifestyle, nurturing both mind health and overall quality of life without compromise.

Mindfulness and balance in using technology are the only proven ways to improve your cognitive function if you want to live life to the fullest. There are ways of getting your rotting brain healthy once again.

The licensed professionals at our location are waiting in the wings to help lock in some great strategies. Call our office today to begin.