Brain Rot with All Its Intertwined Aspects
Earlier this month, on December 2, 2024, Oxford Dictionary named brain rot as the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024. This word didn’t just come out of nowhere, in fact, the use of this term increased by 230 percent in the period 2023-2024. So, what does brain rot mean and how did it come about?
Quoting from the Oxford Dictionary, brain rot is defined as the deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state due to excessive consumption of low-quality and low-value online content, especially on social media. The term is actually not a new term. The word brain rot first appeared in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden.
In his writing, Thoreau used the term brain rot to define his criticism of society’s tendency to value simple or superficial ideas over complex thoughts or ideas. He also saw this as an indication of mental and intellectual decline.
“While England is endeavoring to cure potato blight, is there no effort to cure brain blight-which is far more widespread and deadly?”
— Walden, Henry David Thoreau
The term brain rot has taken on a new meaning in the digital age, especially over the past 12 months. Initially popular on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, the phrase has come to be used more broadly, such as in journalism, amid concerns about the negative impact of excessive consumption of online content.
The brain rot phenomenon also has a serious impact on mental health, especially for children and adolescents. More and more studies are showing that excessive consumption of digital content has implications for mental health.
A 2023 study in BMC Public Health linked longer screen time in adolescents to various mental health problems, including depression, attention-deficit symptoms, and behavioral disorders. Additionally, a study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking revealed a link between engagement in social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram and increased depression and anxiety.
One of the mental health care centers in the US, the Newport Institute, has even issued a guide to recognize and avoid brain rot. On its website, the Newport Institute refers to brain rot as a lethargic mental state that reduces attention span and decreases cognitive function due to excessive device use. Brain rot can manifest in a number of behaviors, such as compulsive video game playing despite not being addicted and zombie scrolling.
The Brain Rot Phenomenon in Indonesia
The brain rot phenomenon seems to be closely related to Indonesian society, especially the younger generation. Based on data published by research firm Exploding Topics in a report entitled “TikTok User Age, Gender, & Demographics (2024)”, Indonesians are the world’s longest-running TikTok audience with an average time of 41 hours 35 minutes each month, beating the UK (40 hours 50 minutes), Chile (40 hours 1 minute), Mexico (39 hours 58 minutes), Thailand (39 hours 14 minutes), and the United States (38 hours 2 minutes).
This data can illustrate how high the level of digital engagement of Indonesians is, especially towards TikTok content, which often presents content with superficial or meaningless quality and value. With such a long screen time, it is likely that our young generation is also experiencing the phenomenon of brain decay. So, what can be done to avoid brain rot?
Humans should not be controlled by technology
In today’s digital era, digital communication and consumption are closely related to life and seem to be a necessity. The conditions of the times require us to adapt to the existing technology. However, without us realizing it, this deep-rooted digital culture, if not addressed wisely, will cause addiction and dehumanize humans themselves.
Humans should not be controlled by technology. It is humans who should control the technology. This should be the basic view to start doing digital activities in a healthy way so that brain rot will not occur.
So, what if we are already stuck in a routine that leads to brain rot? The process may not be easy, but there are several things that can be done to minimize the phenomenon of brain rot. First, reduce or limit screen time. It doesn’t have to start with a big change, you can reduce it starting from 15 minutes every day. If you get used to it, increase it to 30 minutes and so on.
The second is to find substitutes to bring focus and distract from excessive consumption of social media content. This can be done by doing various hobbies and useful activities, such as exercising, watching movies, reading, and knitting. Finally, commit to reducing curiosity about all things trending or commonly referred to as FOMO (fear of missing out). The nature of FOMO brings feelings of curiosity and anxiety that increase screen time and dependence on social media.
The presence of the term brain rot is a reflection of the current condition of society. This phenomenon is also an irony because it is echoed again by the generation that in fact bears the heaviest impact of brain rot itself.
Translator: Pangkuh Ajisoko
Author: Maulady Virdausy Fahmy
Editor: Teuku Zulman Sangga Buana
