Ever felt drained after hours of scrolling through your feed? Ever since 'brain rot' became Oxford's Word of the Year 2024, it had us wondering if our digital habits are taking a bigger toll on us than we realize.
It’s hard to resist the pull of our screens off late; scrolling through social media, binge-watching videos or hopping from one app to another. While technology has undoubtedly made life more convenient, it’s also brought along some unexpected side effects. One of those is something we casually call brain rot, and in 2024, this particular term has become the Oxford Word of the Year.
What exactly is brain rot? At its core, it’s a term people use to describe the mental fatigue that comes from spending too much time consuming trivial or low-quality content online. Think of those hours spent doomscrolling through social media or getting lost in a loop of mindless videos that are fun in the moment, sure, but often leaving you feeling a little drained or even empty afterwards. Remember the viral “My brain has melted into goo but here’s another cat video” meme? Or the “Just five more minutes of scrolling at 3 a.m.” captions paired with weirdly animated cartoon characters? Another example could be those animation videos about home renovation paired with weird stories. Most of us have no idea how brain rot became a part of the culture and it reflects how we’ve become slaves of these habits. If you haven't watched any of these videos, well congrats!
Also Read: The #Womeninmaledominatedfields trend is fashionably calling out everyday misogyny, and here's why we love it!
These kind of videos are the epitome of brain rot because they’re designed to grab your attention with bizarre visuals and cliffhangers but provide absolutely no value. Instead, they keep you trapped in a cycle of “just one more video”, leaving you wondering why you spent 20 minutes watching absolutely nothing. The scariest part is that even when we know they add no value, we can't put the phone down. They appeal to our curiosity and love for the ridiculous, which is why they’re so effective at pulling us into the brain rot vortex.
Interestingly, the phrase 'brain rot' isn’t just about describing a problem; it’s also about how we’ve started to acknowledge it. More and more people, especially the Gen Z are noticing how their digital habits affect their mental health and are talking openly about it. The popularity of this term shows that while we love our screens, we’re also becoming aware of the importance of stepping back every now and then.
This awareness has also made digital detox a common phenomenon today where people consciously take breaks from their devices to recharge mentally. It’s a small but significant step toward finding balance on platforms that often feel designed to keep us endlessly scrolling. It’s a reminder that while technology has many perks, it’s up to us to use it mindfully.
Here's how people are reacting to this!
Does brain rot feel like a real issue to you or just an overblown trend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
For more such content, follow us on @socialketchup
/socialketchup/media/agency_attachments/oTmmYmTemGaSn2TxEWbL.png)
/socialketchup/media/member_avatars/2024/10/28/2024-10-28t135614899z-1000235363.jpg )
Follow Us/socialketchup/media/media_files/2024/12/04/qSEwwtn5H2plnOrsB2ha.png)
/socialketchup/media/media_files/2025/01/03/leaderboard-new-dec-mag.png)