In today’s society social media are almost unavoidable: we carry them everywhere, access them anywhere, and they influence everything. While social media may seem relatively harmless – we use it for posting funny pictures of a friend on their birthday or for entertainment, viewing the content of creators from all over the world – it is also known for its potentially damaging effects.
In 2024, Oxford revealed that their word of the year was “brain rot”, which they describe as:
“Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration.”[1]
The term is often associated with the use of social media, as it plays a pivotal role in providing its audience with excessive amounts of low-quality online content. As seen in the official definition, the term “brain rot” actually captures both the cause and the effect. The term may refer to the content itself, but it can also refer to the negative impact that viewing such content has on a person.1
Although “brain rot” is not real, in the sense that it is not an official medical diagnosis, it is still a real phenomenon that people may experience.[2] Have you ever caught yourself doomscrolling for hours, jumping between multiple online platforms, or struggling to resist the urge to check your phone? If so, you might be at risk of developing brain rot or you might already be infected with it…
How does brain rot work?
Scrolling social media releases dopamine, creating feelings of reward that make you want to keep going. Your brain starts to associate scrolling with gratification, even if you know it’s harmful, which can lead to a behavioural addiction.2 The constant and never-ending stream of low-quality online content overstimulates the brain, causing it to metaphorically rot.
While “brain rot” and social media addiction aren’t exactly the same, they are closely related: excessive use of social media can contribute to the mental effects often described as brain rot. Dr Rich, a paediatrician who founded a Digital Wellness Lab at a children’s hospital, explains that brain rot describes more than screen obsession – it’s a symptom of how some people manage stress or emotional difficulties, often by losing themselves in social media or games.3 And even though social media addiction and brain rot are typically stigmatised, Dr. Rich reports that a growing number of young people openly take pride in these behaviors[3].
More young internet users are proud of their niche internet knowledge and compete with each other over who has the longest screen time. This rise is also seen on online platforms themselves, with a forum like BuzzFeed releasing a quiz titled: “If you pass this brainrot quiz, your brain is 1000% cooked.”3
Although brain rot content is often considered to be funny, unserious, and harmless, extensive social media use can have real lasting effects. Increasing research suggests that using AI and social media may be linked to declines in cognitive abilities[4] – the skills needed for perception, learning, memory, reasoning, and language.[5] This is particularly concerning given that the majority of internet users are young, impressionable people, and their developing brains may be especially vulnerable.
Social media use doesn’t have to be all bad, one can still enjoy scrolling through TikTok or watching a YouTube video, however, moderation is important. A good balance between your on- and offline life is essential to keeping your brain healthy. So remember to put away your phone once in a while and forget about “skibidi toilet”, “67” and “tralalero tralala” for a moment.With the cold winter weather approaching, you might be inclined to stay inside and spend more one-on-one time with your screen. Therefore, on a final note, I would like to provide you with some of my (maybe a bit obvious) tips on how to de-rot your brain:
- Go outside for a stroll and leave your phone at home. Touch some grass, breathe in some fresh air – a fresh breeze can do wonders for a mouldy brain.
- Give yourself a screen time limit. Most phones offer the option to put screen time limits on specific apps, this might help you to reduce your screen time and get rid of that phone addiction.
- Read a book (or our magazine ;)). Books are a great way to boost your cognitive abilities, they help improve your memory and attention span[6]. De-fry that brain now, one page at a time.
- Spend time with friends. And no, don’t just send them a text or call them, meet them in person and have an actual conversation. Put those phones in airplane mode!
- Learn a new skill. Whether it is learning a new language or instrument, learning something new may take your mind off the fear of missing out on the never-ending stream of online content.
[1] Oxford University Press. (2024, December 2). ‘Brain rot’ named Oxford Word of the Year 2024. https://corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/
[2] Newport Institute Staff. (2024, January 10). Brain Rot: The impact on young adult Mental health. Newport Institute. https://www.newportinstitute.com/resources/co-occurring-disorders/brain-rot/
[3] Roy, J. (2024, June 17). ‘Brainrot’ is the new online affliction. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/13/style/brainrot-internet-addiction-social-media-tiktok.html
[4] Chen, B. X. (2025, November 6). How A.I. and social media contribute to ‘Brain Rot.’ The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/technology/personaltech/ai-social-media-brain-rot.html
[5] APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). https://dictionary.apa.org/cognitive-ability
[6] National University & NU Editorial Contributors. (2021, September 21). Reading improves memory, concentration, and stress. National University. https://www.nu.edu/blog/reading-improves-memory-concentration-and-stress/