Breathe
By Ana Cecilia Pérez
2024 will be remembered as the year that the term "brain rot," literally translated as "brain deterioration," achieved Word of the Year status according to the Oxford English Dictionary. This term has captured global attention by describing the impact of excessive consumption of trivial digital content on mental health and productivity.
Although "brain rot" is now part of the jargon of social networks, its first documented use comes from Henry David Thoreau in his work Walden (1854), where he criticized the simplification of ideas in favor of the trivial. However, in the 21st century, this concept evolved within digital culture to describe that feeling of "mental atrophy" that arises after hours of watching memes, short videos, or falling into endless loops of repetitive content on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram or YouTube.
We live in an era where information is just a click away, but not all of it has the same value. The struggle for attention has generated increasingly fast and superficial content, designed to capture glances, not to enrich minds.
Recent studies show that excessive time spent on social networks can lead to mental exhaustion, chronic distraction and even anxiety. In this context, "brain rot" becomes a universal expression that synthesizes an experience shared by millions.
The choice of "brain rot" reflects a collective self-awareness about the dangers of our relationship with technology. This term captures the irony of a generation that, while laughing at memes about their inability to concentrate, is beginning to reflect on the effects of their digital habits.
Oxford noted that the use of this word increased by 230% in the last year, especially on platforms where young people discuss their experiences with excessive digital content. This boom is no coincidence, but a symptom of how we have normalized - and even romanticized - distraction in the digital age.
The choice of "brain rot" as Word of the Year should not only make us laugh, but also reflect. How do we balance digital entertainment with meaningful content? To what extent are we willing to sacrifice depth for immediacy?
The real challenge lies not in demonizing social media, but in learning to use it consciously. Perhaps, instead of bemoaning brain rot, we should start looking for brain bloommoments-spaces where our minds flourish with knowledge, creativity and authentic human connection.
Will we be ready for that change? Time - and our screens - will tell.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
Comments ()