Brain Rot: It's Real, But Not in the Way You Think
Everything You Need To Know To Have A Healthier Relationship With Screentime
We’ve all heard the term brain rot used casually—usually as a way to describe the mental fog or lack of cognitive sharpness that can arise from too much screen time, social media doom scrolling, or endless hours spent in front of your cellphone at night. While it might seem like a tongue-in-cheek phrase, there’s a grain of truth to it. But there are also some misconceptions.
What is Brain Rot Content?
The New York Times in 2024 described it as “internet content deemed to be of low quality or value, or the supposed negative psychological and cognitive effects caused by such material”. It’s not an official medical term, but it was named the Oxford word of the year in 2024; which validates its existence beyond the web chatter. This focus on poor web content consumption is nothing new. Features like screen time counters and night mode options are both established efforts to curb unhealthy scrolling habits. It’s safe to say that brain rot is more than an internet flavor of the month. So, what are the facts and myths surrounding it?
What Do Most People Get Right?
Brain rot and its connection to excessive amounts of media consumption is a well documented experience. Although complex, many studies cite there being a correlation between mental health and extensive social medium consumption – good and bad. Things like your sleeping patterns can also be disrupted due to the use of your devices at night on the default brightness settings. And even despite independent studies, Meta in 2017 even admitted that passive consumption of social media could be harmful to mental health. Basically, too much of anything isn't really a good thing. Especially in times of global conflict and political discord.
Those are just some of the facts, but what myths are out there about Brain rot.
What Do Most People Get Wrong?
It turns out that not all media content is created equally. It's not just about how much one consumes but more the quality of what they are consuming. Some studies suggested that there are negligible or positive effects to school performance when consuming parental controlled content. This means that quality education-based content and consumption of it can lead to positive effects.
How Can We Take Control of the Situation?
The key to overcoming – or rather, better-understanding – brain rot lies in making conscious choices to break free from passive consumption and intentionally engage our minds in more meaningful ways. Here are a few strategies:
Make learning intentional: use time spent online to teach yourself a new skill.
Practice mindful consumption: keep some time for yourself to be present in what you’re doing and who you are surrounded by.
Get moving: when you move your body you release all sorts of happy chemicals that will clear your mind.
Rest your brain: there’s a lot of data online. Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed with the vastness. Make time for rest.
In the end, while brain rot may sound like an ominous and dreadful condition, it's something we can control with a little awareness and effort. By shifting our habits toward more purposeful engagement and mental stimulation, we can protect and even enhance our cognitive health in a world that demands more from our minds than ever before.