Brains Behind the Rot

“Ballerina Cappuccina. Tralelero Tropa Lang”.

You might’ve heard these strange-sounding words blasting from your screen or echoed by kids glued to their phones—as if these devices are now their fifth limb. And then there’s “Sigma Alpha Beta Omega”—which, at first glance, looks like something out of a frat house or a math textbook. But in the chaotic symphony of today’s digital culture, these words exude an entirely different aura.

In the 21st century, technology and social media are not just tools—they're woven into the DNA of Gen Alpha. These young digital natives are growing up in a hyperconnected world where media consumption isn’t just a habit—it’s a lifestyle. And the content they’re consuming? It's what the internet now calls “brainrot.”

The Origin of the ‘Rot’

“Brainrot” isn’t a medical term nor is it entirely new. In fact, it dates all the way back to 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, where he used it metaphorically to criticize the decline of intellectual standards. He likened it to the “potato rot” crisis in Europe, implying a parallel decay—only this time, of the mind. In today’s context, brainrot—also spelled brain rot or brain-rot—is a slang term describing the perceived decline in mental or intellectual capacity due to excessive consumption of trivial or unchallenging online content. The term has gained traction in the digital age, especially among younger generations like Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who are deeply immersed in internet culture.

This kind of short-form or meme-heavy content can’t simply be ignored. It has become a defining trait of Generation Alpha, even being selected as Oxford’s Word of the Year in 2024. It reflects the growing concern about how overconsumption of online content—often bizarre, overstimulating, or meaningless—may be deteriorating our cognitive health.

While such content may seem harmless because it’s “just nonsense,” it may actually be affecting the wiring and circuits of our brains.

Science of the 'Rot’

While "brainrot" may have started as a slang term used to mock bizarre or mindless internet trends, growing evidence suggests it’s far more than a joke. In fact, science is beginning to uncover real consequences on brain health, especially in Generation Z and Generation Alpha—age groups deeply immersed in short-form content ecosystems like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.

In their review Demystifying the New Dilemma of Brain Rot in the Digital Era (Yousef et al., 2025), researchers found that excessive exposure to overstimulating, low-effort online material can significantly impact neural development, particularly in adolescents whose brains are still forming.

The result? Young people may become more mentally fatigued, easily distracted, and less capable of deep thinking or problem-solving—skills essential for education and future careers.

Behavioral neuroscientist Dr. Kyra Bobinet, author of Unstoppable Brain, warns that this constant digital stimulation doesn’t just lead to brain fog—it alters the way our brains work on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s in the zeitgeist that people have difficulty with their attention span. They feel brain foggy, they have less concentration... they can’t do deep work,” Bobinet told Fox News Digital (2024).

She also noted an overlooked social consequence: “There’s an epidemic of loneliness that’s been sitting on the heels of this, because we can’t really focus on anything, including relationship-building.”

Further research also suggests that overstimulation from bite-sized, “ohio” (chaotic) content may desensitize dopamine pathways—the brain's reward system—making ordinary activities, like reading, socializing, or studying, feel dull by comparison (Robinson & Smith, 2023). This can result into our phones being stuck to our faces–digital dependency and even withdrawal symptoms when offline, reflecting behavioral patterns seen in substance addictions.

If these media and contents that we consume are foods, then these brainrotted crunch are similar to those processed junk foods: instantly gratifying but nutritionally empty—leaving the mind both overstimulated and undernourished.

So, Are We Cooked?

We’re not entirely “cooked” or beyond saving. Not everything labeled as brainrot is inherently harmful. Many psychologists suggest that absurdist or surreal content can provide emotional release or act as a form of postmodern satire. The problem arises when this becomes our only form of stimulation—replacing rich storytelling, real-life connection, and meaningful experiences. The key lies in mindful consumption: knowing when entertainment becomes escapism, and when absurdity begins to blur the line between fiction and reality.

The rise of brainrot—seen in Skibidi Toilets, Giga Chads, and AI-generated chaos—mirrors the constantly shifting landscape of digital culture. While easy to laugh off, its long-term effects on the cognitive and emotional health of young, always-online generations are real and worth serious attention.

We can not unplug from the internet entirely. But we can build discipline and balance by promoting content that challenges the mind, supporting healthier screen habits, and becoming more aware of what we’re feeding our brains.

Because what we scroll becomes what we think.