Do you doom scroll on social media from dawn to dusk? Do you feel anxious when you are disconnected from the internet? You might be experiencing 'brain rot', also called digital dementia. Here’s all you need to know about the Oxford Word of the Year 2024.
 |
| Source - Digital Information |
‘Brain rot’ is defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of online content considered to be unchallenging.” This Gen Alpha word that emerged as the winner of the Oxford Word of the Year 2024 provides a deep insight into the emotional effects of the digital ecosystem.
Spending too much time on social media and binge-watching low-quality videos and reels significantly reduces our attention span and our brain’s ability to think critically.
Why Did ‘Brain Rot’ Emerge as the Winner?
Following a public voting system, in which about 37,000 people participated, ‘brain rot’ came on top, defeating words like ‘rizz’, ‘romantasy’, ‘demure’, etc. It was found that the usage of the term had a significant surge in 2023 and 2024 by a usage frequency of 230% as per the experts of the Oxford University Press.
The World of ‘skibidi,’ ‘ohio,’ and ‘sigma’
‘Brain rot’ has given rise to a specific online culture of languages. The word ‘skibidi’ is attributed to something nonsensical and pointless, while ‘ohio’ stands for something embarrassing. ‘Sigma’ refers to the alpha male culture. This has pointed to the general immaturity of ‘brain rot’.
When Did It Start?
The term was first recorded in 1854 in Walden, a book authored by Henry David Thoreau, which comprises his experiences of living in a simple lifestyle. In his book, Thoreau uses ‘brain rot’ to criticize the society’s tendency to devalue complex ideologies, which can be interpreted in different ways, as to favor the simple and more understandable ideas.
Thoreau describes this as a decline in intellectual effort to know the hard work of the people proposing those complex ideas. In his view, Thoreau addresses society’s interest in being spoon-fed, instead of the thirst to know more and understand the new principles.
The term became popular in the 2000s and gained more reach in 2023. It is now excessively linked with immersing in the online culture.
The Shift in Online Culture
The term ‘brain rot’ has presently become synonymous with both the cause and the effect. Simultaneously, it refers to the low quality online content consumed and the negative impacts it serves to our mental health.
There has been a significant shift in the content on social media now. In past years, the influencers and content creators put a lot of effort into creating content that was original and had depth. But, in recent years, online content has simply generated views using shock value.
By creating clickbaits and attractive thumbnails, many videos have now become the rat traps for the online viewers. Creating videos that are completely useless and giving headings that convey a totally different idea from the content have become the viral trend now.
As more children got laptops and tablets, a huge shift in the content culture is clearly visible.
The Impact
‘Brain rot’ can be said to be the inability to move forward without internet slang. This can affect people of all ages.
For children, it can affect their ability to think practically and solve problems as they are exposed to these useless online contents. It can reduce their creativity and communication skills.Reduced attention span is another concern.
For adults, it may cause them memory loss, irritation, and addiction to social media.
How to Avoid ‘Brain Rot’?
We are living in a world where screens are the masters.It is essential to find ways to prevent this condition before it gulps us fully. Here are some habits that can help you in preventing ‘brain rot.’.
1. Get Good Sleep
Sleep deprivation can increase brain rot by reducing the ability to deal with stress. It can lead to forgetfulness. So a good sleep should be implemented in our daily life.
2. Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness can significantly reduce brain rot by increasing attention span and focus. Studies have shown that 20 minutes of meditation can reduce cortisol levels by 25%, increasing focus. Breathing exercises and yoga do a lot in improving our mental health.
3. Spend Time Outdoors
Don’t sit with your eyes glued to the laptop or mobile screen throughout the day. Find some time for a nature walk,have some good conversations with your loved ones, and play games outside. These measures can help you to become more social and can easily deviate you from the monstrous clutch of social media.
It is always essential to find a healthy balance between our virtual life and real life. As a generation shift undergoes, people can get easily influenced by the varying trends of social media.We should go back to the culture of promoting useful and original content rather than simply wasting our time in ‘skibidies’ and ‘ohios’. Your brain deserves better than just memes and doom scrolling!
Written By Irene Elina Eldhose
This article has been authored exclusively by the writer and is being presented on Eat My News, which serves as a platform for the community to voice their perspectives. As an entity, Eat My News cannot be held liable for the content or its accuracy. The views expressed in this article solely pertain to the author or writer. For further queries about the article or its content you can contact on this email address - ireneelinaeldhose@gmail.com
.jpeg)
0 Comments