Internet
brain rot
What does brain rot mean?
The cognitive haze that sets in from consuming too much low-effort online content. Can't focus, brain feels static, every thought is a meme reference.
"I tried to read a book and lasted four pages — full brain rot."
Origin
Thoreau used 'brain-rot' in Walden (1854) as a swipe at intellectual laziness. The modern sense — fried by Reels, TikTok, Skibidi Toilet and the like — took over in the early 2020s and was Oxford's Word of the Year in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What does brain rot mean?
Brain rot is the mushy, foggy feeling in your head after too much short-form scrolling.
How do you use brain rot in a sentence?
"I've got total brain rot after three hours of scrolling reels."
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