The Oxford Word of the Year 2024 is "Brain Rot."
Do you wonder what ‘brain rot’ is? It refers to the overconsumption of invaluable information through the internet, search engines, and social media. The low-quality content on digital media makes our brains store low-value knowledge and unchallenging data.
You may find the word ‘brain rot’ under some YouTube videos or in the comment sections of TikTok. But from a psychological perspective, ‘brain rot describes the negative effect of overusing trivial data and a gradual decline in attention span. Brain rot is not enriching or purposeful, unlike a Good TV show or Game or Any Valuable Content. It is not at all informative and just a time killer. We end up absorbing meaningless data that might make one feel inadequate.
It does not sound funny. Does it?
Now, let’s check whether we are affected by the phenomena of brain rot.
Do you know that the neurochemical dopamine, a pleasure hormone, spikes when we scroll through different social media platforms? It gives a feeling of satisfaction, and we increasingly want it for gratification. So, sometimes, scrolling could become a behavioral addiction. A study on GenZ shows that the average time they spend on digital platforms is 7.2 hours per day. Another research shows the alteration in the brain’s grey matter because of the over-usage of the internet.
Excessive technology usage like binge-watching YouTube, scrolling social media, searching through various browsers, surfing the internet, texting, and checking the floods of emails, texts, voice messages, forwards, etc. make our brains overstimulated and rot.
When an overwhelming desire to be up-to-date makes us scroll aimlessly, the fear of missing out (FOMO) fuels this involvement of going through the screens endlessly. ‘Doomscrolling’, which involves long periods of searching for distressing negative news, makes our brain rot. Another mindless habitual scrolling, deriving no significant benefit, is called ‘Zombie scrolling,’ which leads to brain rot.
Addiction to social media is a persistent habit that makes one’s thinking skills and organization skills rot. The mental health of anyone can be affected by too much video gaming and screen viewing.
How do we get over brain rot if we find ourselves wrapped in it? In today’s digital world, getting away from the screen, mobile phones, or social media takes work. However, it is essential to be aware of the consequences and far-reaching effects of digital information and misinformation overload.
A mental trick to avoid brain rot:
There is a simple way to recognize and separate the inundated information we collect from our screens. It is like how we separate and manage waste in different waste bins.
One needs to be vigilant and prepared to fight the phenomenon brain rot, though it is not a medical situation. Hope this blog gives you some information about how to stop your brain rot. If the digital use is too much for you to handle, then it is time to reach out for professional help. We would love hear your story of brain rot and internet usage.
–Habeeba Waseem, Founder & Life Skills Coach, MindsOnFleek