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How brain rot affects young and old alike
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Spend enough time on the internet and you’re likely to come across terms like “brainrot” or “chronically online.” These are slang words used to describe a condition where too much screen time or time in niche internet communities starts to alter your behavior, so that the way you speak and think becomes totally confusing to the average person. We’re here to give you a full explainer, including how to use the term "brainrot," how to spot "brainrot" content on TikTok, and how to avoid "brainrot" opinions yourself. Or, if you want to see if you've got major brainrot, take the official Brainrot Quiz .
Note: "brain rot" can also refer to mental fog caused by too much screentime. We'll cover that condition in detail below too.
Brainrot Overview
“Brainrot” is a slang term used on TikTok to describe silly opinions, thoughts, and language that people can develop when they spend too much time online or in niche internet communities. "Brainrot" usually refers to videos or tweets that feel totally out of touch with reality.
Steps
Section 6 of 6:
Avoiding & Reversing Brain Rot
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Limit your casual screen time to 30-60 minutes a day. One of the best ways to prevent brain rot is to cut it off at its source. There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how much is too much, but medical experts recommend putting your phone down virtually whenever possible. [11] X Research source Start by limiting yourself to just 30-60 minutes of social media a day, or less.
- Many phones now have built-in screen time trackers, where you can see how long you’ve spent on your phone, doing what, and control your phone usage .
- There are also a number of apps that limit screen time by disabling your phone when you’ve used it too much.
- You can take the alternative approach of quality, not quantity, for screen time. It might not be wise to conflate things like Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, Ableton Live, or other programs you can use creatively with what people mean when they talk about "screen time" – social media, light video games, and memes. Creative applications, when used on a computer productively, or to experiment with their functions, exercise the brain .
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Curate who you see online. Social media is what you make of it, and the best way to reduce stress and protect yourself from bad opinions, and even harassment, is to block people liberally. [12] X Research source Also, choose the people you follow carefully, and don’t hesitate to unfollow them if seeing their content makes you anxious or depressed.
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Engage your brain with books and art. Social media and other online content are like fast food for your brain—they keep you entertained, but don’t necessarily require a lot of muscle to process or digest. Keep your brain young and healthy by engaging with more challenging things, like books , music, movies, or even puzzles like sudoku or crosswords , instead of being online. [13] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
- Break out a blank page and sketch whatever comes to mind, or swap social media time with journaling .
- You don't have to technically avoid the screen for this. But make sure you don't get tempted to log into your social media on your computer!
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Exercise and spend time outside. Exercise is as important for your brain as puzzles and problem-solving! It helps your brain develop new nerve cells and circulates oxygen-rich blood throughout your brain, which improves brain functioning. [14] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source Aim to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day. [15] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
- Go for a run, walk, or hike outside in the sunshine. Or, get involved with club sports, to make exercise a routine obligation.
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Hang out with people in-person. It’s easy to lose your socializing muscles when your primary form of socialization is online. You tend to forget how people interact when they’re face-to-face, and the etiquette involved. Stay more present and adjusted by making it a point to interact with friends, family, and loved ones at least as often as you talk to people online. Socializing is great for your brain! [16] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source
- Hit up a cafe or bar, attend a concert, or just stroll through the stalls of a market to get your daily fill of facetime.
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See a therapist to talk about struggles with internet addiction. If you feel that your screen time is negatively impacting your life, and you struggle to kick the habit, consider seeing a therapist . A licensed professional can help devise strategies and solutions to get you offline and into the real world.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhy is my brother saying "level 10 gyatt" to me?Ennan GeographicCommunity AnswerIn slang vocabulary, "gyatt" means talking about a big behind. It also means god damn.
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QuestionIf I say phrases like Ohio and sigma for fun around my friends who also say the same sort of stuff is it brainrot or not?Kambri MorrisCommunity AnswerNo, you are simply making fun of the generation and not actually being serious.
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QuestionHow do you get a friend to stop speaking brainrot?Community AnswerShow them this website.
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References
- ↑ https://www.pcworld.com/article/1681249/doom-scrolling-is-giving-you-brain-rot.html
- ↑ https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/brain-rot
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7366948/
- ↑ https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/news/Pages/Social-Media-Addiction.aspx
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502424/
- ↑ https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/digital_media_literacy_1.pdf
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9580444/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502424/
- ↑ https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/
- ↑ https://www.vox.com/the-goods/23497207/chronically-online-twitter-tiktok
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/children-and-screen-time
- ↑ https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-young
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/memory-5-ways-to-protect-your-brain-health
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- "I struggle from being chronically online. Everyday I spend doomscrolling. However, this article has given me a new life. Instead of being online, I read books and touch grass. I never feel the urge to say "what the sigma" or "Gyatt" or "Rizz". Thank you." ..." more
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