Losing your mind looking at memes? The dictionary has a word for that

A young teenager is lying on her bed, scrolling through her phone while wearing headphones. If you find yourself spending hours mindlessly watching videos on Instagram reels and TikTok, you might be experiencing something called brain rot. This term has been named the word of the year by Oxford University Press. It reflects growing concerns about the effects of consuming too much low-quality content online, particularly on social media platforms. The usage of the term has surged by an impressive 230% from 2023 to 2024. According to Andrew Przybylski, a psychologist and professor at Oxford University, the rise in popularity of this term is a 'symptom of the time we're living in. ' Brain rot outperformed five other contenders for the title, including words like demure, Romantasy, and dynamic pricing. So, what exactly does brain rot mean? Brain rot is defined as the perceived decline in a person's mental or intellectual state, particularly as a result of consuming excessive amounts of trivial or unchallenging material. Interestingly, the term was first recorded long before the internet existed; it was noted in 1854 by American author Henry David Thoreau in his book Walden. In this work, Thoreau criticizes society's tendency to undervalue complex ideas, suggesting that this contributes to a general decline in mental and intellectual effort. He provocatively asks, 'While England endeavors to cure the potato rot, will not anyone endeavor to cure the brain rot – which prevails so much more widely and fatally? ' The term brain rot initially gained traction among younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha, but it has now entered mainstream usage as a way to describe the low-quality content that floods social media. Professor Przybylski points out that 'there's no evidence of brain rot actually being a thing. ' Instead, he argues that it encapsulates our dissatisfaction with the online world, serving as a term to express our anxieties surrounding social media. Casper Grathwohl, the President of Oxford Languages, notes that if we look back at the Oxford Word of the Year selections over the past two decades, we can see a growing concern about how our virtual lives are evolving and how internet culture is becoming an integral part of our identities and conversations. Last year's winning word, 'rizz,' exemplified how language is increasingly shaped and shared within online communities. Brain rot highlights one of the perceived dangers of our virtual lives and how we choose to spend our free time. What other words were on the shortlist? One of the words is demure, which describes a person who is reserved or restrained in their appearance or behavior. Another term is dynamic pricing, which refers to the practice of adjusting prices for products or services based on changing market conditions, particularly charging higher prices during times of increased demand. Lore is another word that refers to a collection of facts, background information, and anecdotes related to a person or subject, considered necessary for a full understanding of the topic. Romantasy is a genre of fiction that combines elements of romance and fantasy, often featuring themes of magic, the supernatural, or adventure alongside a central romantic storyline. Lastly, slop is a term used to describe art, writing, or other content generated by artificial intelligence that is shared online in a careless or intrusive manner, often characterized as low quality, inauthentic, or inaccurate. Oxford University Press is not the only organization to select a word of the year. Recently, the Cambridge Dictionary announced its own winner. The traditional definition of manifest included meanings like 'easily noticed or obvious' and 'to show something clearly through signs or actions. ' However, it now also includes the idea of 'to manifest' in the sense of imagining achieving something you desire, believing that doing so will increase the likelihood of it happening. This change reflects a global wellness trend that has been endorsed by various celebrities, including singer Sabrina Carpenter. The Collins English Dictionary also announced its word of the year, which is brat. This term has gained popularity in recent months, largely due to Charli XCX's viral album. A brat is defined as someone with a 'confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude. ' It started as the title of her number one album but has evolved into a cultural movement for some, with individuals embracing the brat lifestyle. Another internet trend inspired the Dictionary. com word of the year, which is demure. This word gained traction in August after content creator Jools Lebron posted on TikTok about her demure work outfit and mindful makeup. The 'very demure, very mindful' trend took off, poking fun at traditional ideas of femininity. Overall, these words reflect how our language and culture are evolving in response to the digital age.