WHAT IS BRAIN ROT?

The internet ruined your brain. Let's talk about it.

> WHAT IS BRAIN ROT?

Brain rot is the mental fog you get from consuming too much low-quality internet content. Think: endless scrolling, binge-watching the same show for the fifth time, or spending two hours watching videos about productivity instead of being productive.

It's that feeling when you pick up your phone to check the time and somehow 45 minutes disappear into a void of short videos about cats, conspiracy theories, and life hacks you'll never try.

[ FACT ] Oxford named "brain rot" the Word of the Year in 2024 after its usage increased 230% in a single year. Over 37,000 people voted for it.

> WHERE DID THE TERM COME FROM?

Believe it or not, Henry David Thoreau used "brain rot" back in 1854 in his book Walden. The man was complaining about society's shallow thinking before the internet even existed. The term resurfaced on Discord around 2020, spread to TikTok, and now it's everywhere.

> BRAIN ROT EXAMPLES

[ DID YOU KNOW ] The term "brain rot" is also associated with Gen Z slang like skibidi (from Skibidi Toilet), rizz (charisma), gyatt, fanum tax (taking food from someone else's plate), and sigma (the lone wolf archetype). If you understood all of those, you might already have brain rot.

> BRAIN ROT QUIZ: HOW FAR GONE ARE YOU?

Answer 7 questions. Get your Brain Rot Score. No judgment. (Okay, a little judgment.)

QUESTION 1 OF 7

> BRAIN ROT CONFESSIONS

Share your worst brain rot moment anonymously. Vote on others. No shame here.