Brainrot

In Internet culture, the term brain rot describes digital media deemed to be of low quality or value. More broadly, the term refers to the harmful cognitive effects associated with excessive or disordered use of digital and social media, particularly short-form entertainment, AI-generated content, and doomscrolling. Popularized by Generation Z and Alpha on social media, the term has since entered mainstream usage. In 2024, it was named Oxford Dictionary's "Word of the Year".