When people hear the term “brainrot,” they likely don’t associate it with anything serious.
Originally, it was just a playful way to poke fun at excessive time spent on low-quality online content, like memes or mindless TikTok challenges.
Many from older generations might recall hearing, “That will rot your brain,” when children spent hours in front of the TV.
One could argue that concerns over TVs and video games in the ‘80s and ‘90s are similar to today’s concerns about social media.
However, while “brainrot” once seemed like harmless teasing aimed at chronically online teens, the effects on today’s generation are more concerning.
During the pandemic, screen time among American teenagers soared.
Although this was largely due to the shift to online schooling, screen time remains at an all-time high five years later—and it’s starting to show.
Generation Alpha’s slang, for example, is markedly different from that of previous generations. Mostly derived from internet culture, many of these terms seem indecipherable and nonsensical to outsiders.
This shift reflects the heavy influence of social media on culture, and it hints at deeper issues linked to social media overuse.
Numerous studies have documented the link between social media use and a decline in critical thinking and language skills, which may explain the incoherence of Gen Alpha slang.
The youth of America may be losing the ability to think critically and express their ideas clearly—a serious issue.
Several factors contribute to this problem, primarily social media companies and, to some extent, parents.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat use tactics to hook users and keep them online, often with little regard for the impact on young minds.
These companies should be held accountable, with mandatory audits to limit the harm to children and better controls for parents to manage screen time.
At the same time, parents need to take a more active role in monitoring their children’s phone use, especially for younger kids. An iPad should never be a substitute for parental engagement.