The Rise of ‘Brain Rot’: Insights into the 2024 Word of the Year by Oxford
“Brain rot” has been selected as one of the contenders for Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024, reflecting a growing frustration with the negative impacts of technology and the internet on cognitive function and well-being.
The term captures the feeling of mental decline caused by overexposure to digital content, particularly on social media, which has become a topic of much discussion.
It was one of six words or phrases that gained prominence in 2024, chosen to represent the evolving issues and conversations of the year​..
This word resonates with the widespread concern about how constant online engagement, especially through platforms like TikTok and Instagram, can contribute to a sense of mental deterioration, as individuals find themselves overwhelmed by an endless stream of trivial or superficial information.
The term “brain rot” thus encapsulates the sense of mental decay that some feel as they navigate a world increasingly dominated by digital media