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What is brain rot? -

If you spend a lot of time scrolling on social media, you may have come across the term "brain rot." Indeed, someone may even have suggested you suffer from it!

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Slang term -

In the internet community, the term brain rot refers to when someone spends so much time on the internet that the way they speak and think becomes confusing to the average person.

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Using the term -

You might accuse someone of brain rot, for example, if they use so much internet slang that their language becomes unintelligible, or they express an opinion that is completely out of touch with reality.

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Another definition -

Brain rot can also refer to the mental decline that some people experience as a result of overexposure to the internet. This can include brain fog, poor attention span, and limited critical thinking skills.

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Very real problem - While neither definition of brain rot refers to an actual medical phenomenon, that does not mean it is not a very real problem. Let's take a look at the signs and symptoms.

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Internet addiction -

First up is internet addiction. A person experiencing brain rot will often find it very difficult to step away from the stream of voices they engage with on their phone.

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Internet addiction -

They may spend hours per day scrolling through social media platforms, which are in fact designed to be addictive, rather than doing other, healthier things, such as exercising.

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Strange expertise -

Brain rot is often accompanied by an over-familiarity with certain online subjects. Often, a person with brain rot will feel considerable pressure to keep up with the fast-moving online community.

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Strange expertise - As a result, they may have extensive knowledge of niche online phenomena, and they may even try to use the slang or refer to memes in real life.

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Short attention span - A person experiencing brain rot may also suffer from a short attention span. Indeed, the internet is an "attention economy," meaning that websites compete to hold our attention.

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Short attention span -

As a result, there is a huge amount of content available for users to choose from, and they end up constantly switching between platforms, which over time can erode attention span.

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Poor critical thinking skills -

Brain rot may also harm a person’s critical thinking and/or media literacy skills. They may become less likely to scrutinize the material put in front of them.

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Poor critical thinking skills -

Often, a person experiencing brain rot will respond impulsively to the first thing they read online, rather than taking the time to think before voicing their opinion.

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Doomscrolling -

Brain rot also goes hand in hand with doomscrolling, which is the practice of constantly scrolling through social media to feed off pieces of negative news.

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Doomscrolling -

Doomscrolling can be very addictive, since there is always something new to read about. However, it can be very harmful to mental health, causing stress and even depression.

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Brain fog -

Another related phenomenon that people may experience is brain fog. This is a term that entered common parlance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Brain fog -

Indeed, the symptoms of slowness that can arise when recovering from a virus, such as poor planning or decision-making skills, can also develop from spending too much time online.

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Mental health issues -

People who spend so much time online that they experience brain rot will often also struggle with depression or low self-esteem.

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Mental health issues -

Social media places a huge amount of pressure on people to collect likes and followers, and it makes people want to appear perfect. Of course, no one is perfect, and the pressure to appear so can cause serious self-esteem issues.

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Aggression -

Finally, people with brain rot can become aggressive. Indeed, it is often a term used to describe people who are overly combative, either online or in the real world.

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Aggression -

The idea is that the person has spent so much time online that they have become out of touch with reality, and they are more likely to argue about trivial things as a result.

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Preventing brain rot -

If you are looking to prevent brain rot, the best thing to do is cut it off at the source. There is no rule about how much social media is too much, but experts recommend putting down your phone as much as possible.

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Limit screen time -

A good place to start is by trying to limit yourself to 60 minutes of scrolling per day. You might use a built-in time tracker to help enforce the limit.

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Curate your exposure -

Another way to exercise some control over how your internet exposure affects you is to curate who you see online.

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Curate your exposure -

The most effective way to do this is to block people liberally and choose who you follow carefully. Don't be afraid to unfollow people whose content you find upsetting.

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Otherwise engage the brain -

It is also a good idea to engage your brain in other ways. Bear in mind that social media content is generally not that engaging for your brain.

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Otherwise engage the brain - Why not go old school and read a book every now and again? Or try to complete a puzzle, such as a crossword or sudoku?

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Exercise - Don't forget that exercise is just as important for your brain as solving puzzles and problems. Boosting the amount of oxygen that goes to your brain will help it function better.

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Exercise -

You need not go crazy with physical activity, but it is worth trying to get in 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day. This could be as simple as going for a walk.

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If all else fails -

Finally, if you feel that spending time on the internet is negatively impacting your life and you don’t know what to do about it, don’t hesitate to see a therapist for advice.

Sources: (WikiHow)

See also: How endless scrolling through social media can make you sick (literally)

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