We’ve all experienced it: brain rot.
After 37,000 votes and worldwide discussion, brain rot has been deemed the word of 2024 by the Oxford University Press. It is evident our language is developing rapidly, as seen last year when the Oxford word of the year was “rizz.” Oxford defines brain rot 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.” However, this word is not new. In fact, the first use of the term “brain rot” was by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 ode to the natural world, Walden. With technology taking over our world continuously, it’s fitting that a slang term for excessive social media usage is the reigning word of the year.
“I’m not surprised, but I think it is unacceptable. brain rot should not have that much popularity,” sophomore Anthony Torres said.
However, the term has gained high traction in the past year among Gen-Z adolescents, especially on popular applications like TikTok.
“[brain rot] has definitely been an influential thing this year, I definitely think it is very relevant,” senior Tati Broadnax said.
Despite brain rot’s humorous connotations, some believe it truly is a rising concern that deserves the utmost attention and precaution. According to the Newport Institute, one study showed that “doomscrolling,” or constantly using your phone for hours on end, may lead to higher levels of psychological stress and lower levels of mental well-being. Another study from the Newport Institute found that those who have high levels of social media consumption also have poorer mental and physical health.
“It is kind of like a pandemic now and everyone is going to turn into mindless robots,” Broadnax said.
According to Forbes, more states are beginning to ban cell phones in school as a means to decrease distractions in the classroom and counter some of the psychological effects of brain rot. In fact, the cell phone pouches previously implemented in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) show localized proof of an attempt to reverse damage evoked by technology.
“brain rot is not an accurate representation of our language usage. Honestly, I don’t even think it is a real word,” sophomore Walter Martinez said.
Despite mixed opinions on the word of the year, Oxford experts noticed that ‘brain rot’ gained new prominence this year, as its usage frequency increased by 230% between 2023 to 2024.
“Overall, I think brain rot is a legitimate concern and reflective of our generation,” Broadnax said.
