Have you ever found yourself trapped endlessly scrolling on social media, unable to escape? You fall into the doomed pit of mindless scrolling, only to realize hours have passed. Every day, like clockwork, people crave a break from reality. Their eyes, glued to their screen, staring at short-lived clips with foolish content. This digital reliance even has a name: “brain rot.” Achieving recognition as the 2024 Oxford Word of the Year, brain rot is excessive digital media consumption, allowing for a stream of mindlessness that is deteriorating focus and mental abilities.
A year ago, I cut off my reliance on social media to end my dependence on brain rot, and my boycott has been fantastic. While the mindlessness of brain rot makes it seem like the perfect activity to unwind, it actually produces more harm than good. Whether mindlessly scrolling on Instagram, TikTok or X, brain rot is an absurd pastime that people realize is detrimental but refuse to quit.
The brain rot pandemic spans all over the world, infecting all age groups. It appears to have become a cultural norm as endlessly scrolling has become deeply ingrained in people’s daily routines. At the dinner table, shopping centers and even during class, people struggle to break free. People are dependent on these apps because they deliver personalized content that is catered to the user’s interests. This type of highly personalized content lures users in, and it’s tragic to watch my friends become addicts for these numbing, strategically targeted videos.
As a college student, this brain rot outbreak is startling, as I realize how many people fail to escape the hole they have dug themselves into. A couple of months ago, I was discussing screen time with a friend. I shared that my screen time was about an hour and a half a day, and her eyes widened in shock as she failed to process my words. Then, she was hesitant to reveal that her screen time was almost seven hours a day — five hours contributing to TikTok content. I was appalled by her alarming amount of time spent consuming worthless media.
Craving this brain-dead disconnect has guided people to block out reality. People are attracted to this fast-producing content design because it allows their minds to wander without retaining any information. These second-long videos do not give the brain enough time to process the content, and they never enter memory processing, shortening attention spans. Since people are dependent on fast satisfaction through rapid media, they will be fighting for their lives to find an enjoyable activity in the real world. In reality, people cannot simply leave an event when they are faced with boredom, like how social media conditions them to scroll for new content when they are apathetic. Along with their shortened attention span, participants constantly scroll from one video to another, losing track of time. Therefore, they fall into an endless habit of scrolling as they abandon any last hopes of their self-control.
On Colgate University’s campus, how does someone have the time to spend five hours on TikTok per day? There are hundreds of clubs, athletics, school work and outdoor activities to participate in, but they would rather be hyper-focused on foolish content videos. This unfortunate attachment to these second-long videos is causing college students to fail to tackle lengthy novels, reading articles or math equations. Students are battling the desire to endlessly scroll on social media, but they are failing because they believe these brain breaks are necessary.
In my opinion, the content viewers are watching is videos displaying useless information the majority of the time. I understand that people need to disconnect from reality and distress. However, there are far more beneficial activities that do not harm one’s attention span, present retainable information and prevent excessive scrolling. Watching a Netflix show would be more beneficial because it offers a disconnect from reality but keeps the attention span active. Also, people could pick up other hobbies that do not rely on technology: reading, painting or walking while listening to a podcast. To me, these activities are more productive stress relievers that do not harm the brain.
People need to desert this brain rot phenomenon to improve their own lives and not waste time watching meaningless content they will not remember anyway. Imagine how much better your day could be if you did not fall into the brain rot pit. Your attention span would improve, and you could find an activity that brings you even more enjoyment. It is a change within reach. Last year, I opened my phone, searched for my TikTok app and deleted it. What a cathartic experience. Brain rot is a destructive habit that you have the power to abandon. Help yourself: click the delete button, crawl out of the brain rot pit and reclaim your life.
