Brain Rot
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2024 Word of the Year.
The complexity of our modern lives is similar to the layers of mist and light in the early morning sunrise. (EXIF data f11, 1/640s, 120mm, ISO450)
I started this blog post near the end of last year, but it got put aside as other topics piqued my interest more at the time. However, after a very stimulating conversation I found myself opening up this draft and finding it tickling my brain - a sure sign that I need to spend some time with this and mature it more.
It appears that each year the major dictionary sources identify the word of the year and in 2024 Oxford dictionary chose “brain rot”. They defined this term as:
"the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state". (Oxford Dictionary)
This is especially noted as being in relation to the low quality of online content that we consume every day. I can see this - I mean when one thinks about the amount of information that is made readily available to us on a daily basis from so many sources - wow! I spend time purposely limiting the amount and source of the content that I consume and it’s not always easy.
The phrase “brain rot” was actually first used by Henry David Thoreau way back in 1854 in his book Walden - seriously! He was quoted as saying, “While England endeavors to cure the potato rot, will not anyone endeavor to cure the brain rot?” What did he mean by this? I think that he was lamenting what he saw as the decline in intellectual pursuits in his time - he cited the oversimplification of issues and topics as being evidence of brain rot during his time. I wonder what he’d make of the state of things today!
It’s interesting to note that each generation seems to rail against “brain rot” or their version of the term. I can recall growing up and having my father dismiss Saturday morning cartoons as rubbish for the mind. I’m curious what his comments would be about people endlessly scrolling to watch dance routines on TikTok - actually I’m pretty sure I could make an educated guess.
Is the term really applicable?
It’s interesting to reflect on the what is perceived as being intellectually valuable in different time periods and therefore what demonstrates a decline in either intellectual capacity or even in critical thinking skills. Growing up the destruction of young minds was video games - I recall taking breaks from classes at University and visiting a video arcade to decompress and allow my brain a time out from studying. I often felt like switching gears to something totally mindless and different allowed me to come back to my studies much more clear minded - at least that’s what I told myself.
Did it diminish my critical thinking skills? I don’t believe so as it was a short term escapism activity, but what if I’d pursued those activities to the detriment of my studies? What allowed me to know when to call time on this activity and know that it was enough? I think a lot of it had to do with me being purposeful about this activity - it was about taking a breather - a time out and I wasn’t trying to escape anything or numb.
Reflections help to see what it there and what isn’t there like this male wood duck surrounded by autumn leaf colours reflected in the water. (EXIF data f6.3, 1/1000s, 600mm, ISO3200)
In our increasingly complex technological world are skills derived from these so called “brain rot” activities useful? Do they have a natural lifespan or is it merely waiting for the next new thing to come along? I can recall comments that people were losing brain capacity when calculators came along - cashiers could no longer figure out how to make change if the cash register wasn’t working. I will admit that my ability to do sums in my head is not as keen as it was when I was in elementary school (pre calculator days), however I’ve always been of the opinion that if there are readily available resources to use then I’d rather not spend my time filling my brain with memorized information. I know how to do math and I can do it - I choose to use a calculator. Am I oversimplifying this?
Another article I read indicated that symptoms of “brain rot” have been described as becoming increasingly out of touch with the real world or lacking critical thinking due to an over consumption of one form of stimulus. This seems like a pretty extreme scenario and one I’m not sure applies to a wide range of the population - maybe a small segment and isn’t that more akin to an addiction? To me trying to escape reality or numb is a sign of an addictive behaviour.
What is different about 2024 brain rot?
Is there a difference in “brain rot” of this timeframe compared to past generations when the term has been used? It’s true that we’re seeing a massive increase in the amount of information that we’re exposed to - as I mentioned above it can be challenging to control or manage the volume and timing of inputs. I also think that there is a difference in the type or source of “brain rot” information - the prevalence of “fake news” or non credible sources or the seeming lack of a requirement to fact check or cite sources (and would you even believe the sources if they were cited?). This is increasingly concerning as people are making decisions based upon a lot of this information - decisions that might demonstrate a lack of being in touch with reality - food for thought.
There also seems to be a difference in the quality (by that I mean the tone) of information that is provided for consumption - there is a lot of negativity and fear mongering that I see in online information. The fact that algorithms use my search habits or consumption habits to curate what information I get to see or not see - so that I don’t get a choice or a wide variety of sources - the “feed” becomes more narrow and directed from an external interpretation of what I’m interested in. That is scary to me.
I’m interested in flattening my glucose curve and suddenly I get inundated with glucose monitoring devices which morphs into weight loss ads and devices - whoa! Wait a minute - this isn’t what I was looking for or wanting to consume - and I’m a pretty intelligent adult who has been taught to question what I read and not just accept things at face value. What if someone who is more easily led to make purchases based upon this type of information is exposed to it? Or someone with a poor sense of self esteem gets bombarded with diet ads - what does that do to them?
ICM version of a chaotic jumble of data cables. (EXIF data f8, 1/4s, 72mm, ISO1000)
What about young people who can be very impressionable and more easily guided by who and what is influencing them. It’s not just the low quality of some of the content - to me that is pretty similar to the argument about us watching Saturday morning cartoons, but it is the very negative psychological impact from the subtle messages that are embedded in supposed fun information. We have long known the negative impact of advertising for promoting unrealistic body shapes and unhealthy lifestyles, but now these messages are coming from all sorts of different sources and cloaked in very “palatable” window dressing. How do young people not succumb to these messages and the long term negative impacts.
The 2024 “brain rot” seems to differ from previous generations due to the relentlessness nature of the information streams and the shady sources that don’t have to demonstrate credibility - there are no ramifications for false or inauthentic information and this information is being used to make real life decisions. Combine this with the amount of time that many people spend on their devices consuming or being influenced by this information - it truly is frightening.
What does this all mean?
I’m not sure whether “brain rot” in 2024 is terminal or whether it is similar to past generations where it’s about a spectrum of exposure - some people will ignore current trends and information fads whereas the other extreme will demonstrate addictive behaviours and take it all in to shape their thoughts and decisions. Regardless, it appears that there may be value in being aware of what is happening around us and setting some healthy boundaries around technology and content consumption. A little bit of junk food is ok, but a steady diet is not healthy for anyone - it’s pretty much the same with digital content - prioritizing healthy offline activities which promote human connection is a good way to restore some balance.
Even turning off information feeds that push content to you and actively seeking information when you need it can be beneficial - I mean what will be the consequences of not being the first to know some news item - probably nothing earth shattering.
I have come back to this post this week and in light of the changes on the political scene it may be even more important to exercise some personal controls on the amount and type of information that I consume. I have found myself being sucked into the vortex of consuming news and much of what I’ve consumed is about things that I have no control over. I’m putting myself on a self imposed digital detox program where I’m removing all electronic devices from my bedroom and limiting myself to the times when I listen or read news related stories. This feels like a start to help restore some balance in my digital life.
Have you ever felt the need to unplug or reduce the amount of information that you consume? What have you done to help restore or maintain balance in your life - I’d love to hear in the comments below or please drop me a note directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
Nature provides a most excellent way of unplugging and restoring balance. (EXIF data. f5, 1/60s, 180mm, ISO72, -0.33EV)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
