Understanding Brain Rot, the Oxford Word of the Year

The

Oxford University Press

has named ‘

brain rot

‘ as its Word of the Year. The selection of the Word of the Year is done on the basis of public voting, in which more than 37,000 people had participated this year.
“Our language experts created a shortlist of six words to reflect the moods and conversations that have helped shape the past year. After two weeks of public voting and widespread conversation, our experts came together to consider the public’s input, voting results, and our language data, before declaring ‘brain rot’ as the definitive Word of the Year for 2024,” the official statement said.

It defines brain rot as the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the 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.
But what is it, exactly? “Brain rot” isn’t an actual medical condition, -it’s a colloquial term used to describe mental stagnation or

cognitive decline

resulting from too much consumption of nonproductive or overstimulating content, such as scrolling endlessly on social media or binge-watching shows.
This term “brain rot” describes the actual sensation of mental exhaustion or numbing as a consequence of reading and watching pointless material. Try to imagine wasting several hours browsing randomly through YouTube videos or checking out Instagram Reels without any sense of purpose. This appears innocuous enough, but all such wasted time adds up over time and can gradually contribute to cognitive fatigue and decline in one’s ability to concentrate, think, and meaningfully interact with the world.

This “rotting” isn’t literal, of course—there’s no actual decay in the brain. Instead, it’s about how overexposure to low-quality or repetitive stimuli can limit your intellectual growth and emotional well-being. When the brain isn’t challenged with constructive activities, it can lose its sharpness, much like how a muscle weakens if not exercised.

“Our experts noticed that ‘brain rot’ gained new prominence this year 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 in usage frequency by 230% between 2023 and 2024,” the Oxford University Press said.

Why brain rot needs to be assessed properly

Mental health

thrives on balance—balancing productivity and rest, stimulation and calm, consumption and creation. Brain rot disrupts this balance, and its effects can be far-reaching.
Constant exposure to fast media can overstimulate your brain, which might lead to a feeling of stress. Social media platforms, particularly, thrive on endless feeds, which may create anxiety from comparisons, FOMO, or negativity exposure. The constant change of content often conditions the brain to crave instant gratification, making it challenging to hold one’s attention for a longer period of time.
10 effective brain exercises to start the day withOver time, this contributes to a lack of productivity, further fueling feelings of frustration or inadequacy. Too much

low-quality content

can desensitize you emotionally. The overabundance of memes or trivial content can leave you feeling unfulfilled, even though you’ve spent hours consuming it. Late-night scrolling sessions can wreak havoc on your sleep hygiene. Poor sleep directly impacts mental health, leading to issues such as depression, irritability, and fatigue.

How to address the concept of brain rot

The concept of “brain rot” serves as a wake-up call in a world overflowing with distractions. By addressing this phenomenon, you can improve your cognitive function but also nurture your overall mental health.
First of all, track your

digital habits

. Most smartphones contain built-in tools that measure how much time you spend in different applications. Identify what occupies most of your time and evaluate if it adds value to your life. For instance, do you get inspired by scrolling through Instagram, or does it drain you?
Creative activities

would combat the passive nature of mere mindless consumption. In addition to scrolling through social media, one can attempt to write, draw, cook, or learn something new. Creative pursuits are good for the brain and self-esteem.

Be choosy about what you consume. Instead of consuming garbage, make sure to consume stuff that nourishes your mind: watch documentaries, listen to podcasts, or read books. If you like social media, follow inspiring or educational accounts rather than comparison-oriented ones.
Mindfulness techniques

help train the brain to stay present, countering the overstimulation caused by excessive media consumption. Simple practices like deep breathing, journaling, or yoga can make a big difference in re-centering your mind.