The hidden threat of the digital age: Brain rot

The Oxford Dictionary had named 'brain rot' as its word of the year for 2024. One of the primary reasons for this is increased social media usage. According to experts, living constantly with a phone impairs the brain's intellectual functions.

"Brain rot" is defined as the negative impact on mental health and skills caused by the unconscious and excessive consumption of low-quality, simple digital content that requires no intellectual effort.

The dictionary selected 'brain rot' as the word of the year from among six candidate words, with the participation of more than 37 thousand people.

Brain and neurosurgery specialist Prof. Dr. Aşkın Esen Hastürk stated that brain rot affects every age group and that this concept should not be perceived as a frightening term.

Hastürk's statements are as follows:

“Brain rot is the popular name for a general picture that develops due to the decline of intellectual functions and human relationships as a result of the abnormal use of social media, combined with constant scrolling. While this is not a diagnosis, certain behaviors show symptoms in terms of 'brain rot.'

In fact, this may be happening to most of us. For example, living constantly with a phone, never taking our eyes off the phone, constant notification checking, and prioritizing social media over our human and social relationships and hobbies are symptoms of 'brain rot.' Considering the indispensability of social media, this situation is actually seen in many people.”

Hastürk stated that brain rot became widespread in the period following Covid-19 and continued as follows:

“Research conducted in the US in 2023 found that social media and phone addiction, especially among those aged six to 14, increased from 40 percent to 70 percent compared to pre- and post-pandemic levels, and that adolescents' online addiction rose to up to nine hours. This is truly an important point. Therefore, the age group most affected by 'brain rot' is adolescents. Of course, the adolescent period is an important period for character formation.

The sidelining of social relationships during adolescence, children spending too much time in front of screens, the inability to maintain peer relationships, and the failure to establish the social and emotional self that should be learned during adolescence come to the fore.

It is important for adults to be role models against 'brain rot.' To be an example, we need to have a balanced screen time mode. Besides this, we need to prioritize hobbies and human relationships, and create device-free spaces and times in living areas.”