Social media constantly shapes language, and new phrases have popped up and died away throughout the years, constantly enabled by an evolving internet culture. One prevalent phrase currently circulating is “brain rot,” and many are concerned it is going to take over Generation Alpha. However, the reality is much more complex. 

What is Brain Rot?

According to Oxford University Press, a publishing house that has been printing for over five centuries while witnessing the evolution of the English language, brain rot is the word of the year. It is defined as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”

Brain rot also refers to the words or content that causes this deterioration.  According to Rayden Lin, a seventh grader at Wydown, brain rot is the intrusion of social media into real life.

“[Brain rot is] something that people see on the internet or social media [and] start using overly in their real lives,” Lin said.

Sia Girivaru, a freshman, has different views. 

“Brain rot is unnecessary language that can come from social media or people around you,” Girivaru said.

Girivaru expresses annoyance at how some people she interacts with are affected by brain rot.

“It just gets annoying because it’s all I hear nowadays, especially in the younger people I interact with. I don’t think it’s that serious of a problem,” Girivaru said.

In addition, Girivaru believes that brain rot helps people garner attention, which validates their contribution to the conversation and the community.

“People are using brain rot to be seen because they feel the need to stand out,” Girivaru said. “By using these different types of brain rot, people will remember it, so it will stay ingrained in people’s brains. If they are remembered by many people, they will feel [a] sense of accomplishment.”

The Impacts of Brain Rot 

Junior Yijia Mao researched brain rot and performed an oratory for Speech and Debate on it. Mao presented his findings on the topic, saying that “Brain rot is generally anything online now that seems to have any nonsensical meaning tied to it.”

He believes brain rot is a way for people to escape the toxic nature of social media communities. 

“People who stay on Instagram tend to develop more of a toxic personality online. I’d say [brain rot is] a way to cut through that. Nowadays, if you express your opinions normally, [due to the] nature of algorithmic content, you risk developing a lot of resentment toward [yourself]. Brain rot is something that can’t be taken seriously,” Mao said.

According to Mao, brain rot is divisive and hard to generalize. He mentions the word “sigma” as an example, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a man whose self-assured, dogged individualism is considered a model of status, success, and attractiveness.” The word sigma is mocked to some people, and to others, it’s a positive attribute.

“Even though a lot of people use it as a mocking word, a group of people continue to use it as a way of complimenting themselves and others for hyper masculinity. Because of this divide, it tends to fracture upon itself,” Mao said. 

Another example that isn’t quite as divisive is the word “skibidi”. Popularized by the YouTube channel DaFuq!?Boom! it is typically used as a positive adjective. Adam Aleksic, a linguist with a PhD known as @etymology_nerd online, does work in analyzing words like these. Aleksic writes in an article: “‘Brainrot’ is ‘brainrot’ because it’s a comedic aesthetic referring back onto itself. Skibidi is more than skibidi: it’s part of a deep canon of irony knowingly parodying itself as an example of what it means to be ‘chronically online.'”

The impacts of being “chronically online” extend into the classroom, as explained by Sophomore Keegan Snyder. 

“[Brain rot] makes attention spans way worse, which is a big problem. If you’ve ever sat through French class, you really need to be locked in to even hope to understand what’s happening. I feel kids are gonna be in real trouble. They’re not gonna be able to read or anything,” Snyder said. 

While the correlation between brain rot and loss of focus in classrooms is still widely disputed among researchers, some sources argue that the effects of brain rot are detrimental. Nationwide Childrens’, in a blog for pediatric news, attributes reduced attention span to the use of brain rot and prevalence of social media. 

According to the blog, “Scrolling through bite-sized content constantly trains the brain to seek quick, immediate rewards. As a result, it becomes harder to focus on more complex tasks, whether it’s homework, reading a book or engaging in thoughtful conversation.”

Will Brain Rot Become the New Norm?

Mao notes that brain rot usually has a predictable starting process despite its large spectrum of meaning and usage, similar to any other online trend.

“I’d say brain rot is created when there’s initially something major that happens that people just tend to replicate over and over and grant it life. For the most part, [it’s] incredibly nonsensical, but at the same time, the community around it gives it meaning,” Mao said. 

While it’s easy to dismiss “brain rot” as gibberish, language experts argue that it serves important sociolinguistic functions. These terms become a shorthand for expressing complex ideas or emotions, reflecting the humor, values, and experiences of the generation using them. “Brain rot” words represent more than just a passing trend; they offer a window into the evolving nature of language in the digital age.

An article from Educational Sociolinguistics finds that, “Interestingly, this slang reflects a sense of self-awareness among its users. While they recognize the “silliness” of these terms, they also find it to be a form of escapism in a fast-paced digital world.”

The future of brain rot is unpredictable, and its lasting impact on Generations Z and Alpha will take years to reveal themselves. Ultimately, brain rot might be the next stage of language’s evolution for today’s youth, used exclusively to describe and reflect digital challenges unique to their generation.