Oxford announced “brain rot” as the year of the word, describing the term as the “(n.) Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration.”

All that time scrolling Twitter on the toilet, watching inane clips on TikTok, and using every ounce of spare time and energy for visual and audio stimulation on a screen amounts to this fearsome condition of brain rot. Oxford reports that “brain rot” saw a 230% increase in usage from 2023 to 2024, indicating just how pervasive this problem has become in our oversaturated media ecosystem.

The Oxford website notes that the first known recorded use of this bleak term occurred in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, which makes sense given the work’s concern with contemplation, living in accordance with nature, and escaping the vanities and entanglements of modern life. Ironically, “brain rot” started making the rounds primarily on TikTok, one of the biggest culprits when it comes to getting people addicted to screens.

Brain rot is the natural consequence of being hooked to algorithmically fueled apps, like TikTok and Instagram, without balancing such activity with more nutritive pursuits, like reading a book, taking a walk, or spending meaningful time with other people. It’s the final product of mindless distraction, given to us in spurts of fifteen seconds so we’ll keep scrolling, wasting our time, losing our ability to attend to the world around us.

In my quest to combat brain rot in my own life, I find it ever harder to sit down in silence and simply be without needing to be stimulated by some video, podcast, or social media post. One of the worst things about brain rot is that it disables people from enjoying other forms of pleasure, whether it’s eating a good meal or marveling at a beautiful sunset. Because these digital dopamine pitstops are so powerful, the rest of the world starts to look dull and unappealing in contrast. That’s why introducing kids to screens at an early age can severely inhibit their learning capacities. They become bored with anything aside from the glow of the iPad on their laps. According to this study from Cureus, early screen usage is connected with cognitive challenges in children. The authors write,

Early screen exposure has been associated with lower cognitive abilities and academic performance in later years. Language development is also affected by screen time, as it diminishes the quantity and quality of interactions between children and caregivers. 

Kids are getting brain rot before they even have the chance to find out what they’re genuinely interested in. The screen is robbing a whole generation of their talents, personalities, and potential.

Recently, the US appeals court upheld the ban of TikTok by January 19, 2025, unless the app’s parent company, ByteDance, sells it off. According to CNN, TikTok will now bring the case to the Supreme Court. For over a year, now, American leaders have worried that TikTok represents a security threat and is enabling China to mine limitless data from American users.

Beyond the issue of national security, however, which is formidable to say the least, brain rot is another powerful reason to do away with TikTok. However, it’s hardly the only app to deftly addict its users. YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram have all incorporated short video reels in their platforms to compete with TikTok. Does a ban set dangerous precedent of government overreach, or does it resemble something like forbidding the use of cigarettes for children under the age of 18? That’s the question that will continue to define this debate.

Whatever ends up happening, we can at least appeal to parents, teachers, and community leaders to intervene on children’s behalf, and work on building a cultural movement that would make TikTok and its brain-rotting powers lose their influence and control.