Is endless scrolling through social media leaving your mind numb and disengaged? If so, you might be suffering from “brain rot” — the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024.
Chosen by over 37,000 people in a public vote, brain rot emerged from a shortlist of six contenders selected by Oxford University Press. It is defined as the perceived decline in a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially due to excessive consumption of trivial or unchallenging content, particularly online.
Oxford notes that the term gained traction in 2023-2024, with usage increasing by 230%, as it describes the effects of overindulging in low-quality online content, especially on social media. Interestingly, the term “brain rot” was first recorded in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, but it has taken on new meaning in the digital age.
Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, commented, “Brain rot speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life and how we are spending our free time. It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It’s no surprise that so many voters embraced it as our word of the year.”
He also highlighted that the term has gained popularity among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who are not only major consumers but also creators of the digital content the term refers to.
Alongside brain rot, the five other shortlisted words were:
- Demure: Reserved in appearance or behavior, or modest clothing
- Dynamic pricing: Adjusting prices for products or services based on market conditions
- Lore: A collection of background information or facts about someone or something
- Romantasy: A genre blending elements of romance and fantasy
- Slop: Content, such as art or writing, generated by artificial intelligence
As we increasingly live online, “brain rot” highlights a growing concern about the impact of digital consumption on our mental well-being.
