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The effects of ‘brain rot’: How junk content is damaging our minds Social media addiction can reduce grey matter, shorten attention spans, weaken memory, and distort core cognitive functions, according to recent research “Brain rot” was named the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024 after a public vote involving more than 37,000 people. Oxford University Press defines the concept as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.” According to Oxford’s language experts, the term reflects growing concerns about “the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media.” The term increased in usage frequency by 230% between 2023 and 2024. But brain rot is not just a linguistic quirk. Over the past decade, scientific studies have shown that consuming excessive amounts of junk content — including sensationalist news, conspiracy theories and vacuous entertainment — can profoundly affect our brains. In other words, “rot” may not be that big of an exaggeration when it comes to describing the impact of low-quality online content. Research from prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Oxford University, and King’s College London — cited by The Guardian — reveals that social media consumption can reduce grey matter, shorten attention spans, weaken memory, and distort core cognitive functions. A 2023 study highlighted these effects, showing how internet addiction causes structural changes in the brain that influence behavior and cognitive abilities. Michoel Moshel, a researcher at Macquarie University and co-author of the study, explains that compulsive content consumption — popularly known as doomscrolling — “takes advantage of our brain’s natural tendency to seek out new things, especially when it comes to potentially harmful or alarming information, a trait that once helped us survive.” Moshel explains that features like “infinite scrolling,” which are designed to keep users glued to their screens, can trap people — especially young individuals — in a cycle of content consumption for hours. “This can significantly impair attention and executive functions by overwhelming our focus and altering the way we perceive and respond to the world,” says the researcher. Eduardo Fernández Jiménez, a clinical psychologist at Hospital La Paz in Madrid, explains that the brain activates different neural networks to manage various types of attention. He notes that excessive use of smartphones and the internet is causing issues with sustained attention , which “allows you to concentrate on the same task for a more or less extended period of time.” He adds: “It is the one that is linked to academic learning processes.” The problem, says the researcher, is that social media users are constantly exposed to rapidly changing and variable stimuli — such as Instagram notifications, WhatsApp messages, or news alerts — that have addictive potential. This means users are constantly switching their focus, which undermines their ability to concentrate effectively. Experts have been sounding the alarm about this issue since the turn of the century, when email became a common tool. In 2005, The Guardian ran the headline: “ Email pose ‘threat to IQ.’” The article reported that a team of scientists at the University of London investigated the impact of the constant influx of information on the brain. After conducting 80 clinical trials, they found that participants who used email and cellphones daily experienced an average IQ drop of 10 points. The researchers concluded that this constant demand for attention had a more detrimental effect than cannabis use This was before the rise of tweets, Instagram reels, TikTok challenges, and push notifications. The current situation, however, is even more concerning. Recent research has found that excessive internet use is linked to a decrease in grey matter in the prefrontal regions of the brain — areas responsible for problem-solving, emotional regulation, memory, and impulse control. The research conducted by Moshel and his colleagues supports these findings. Their latest study, which reviewed 27 neuroimaging studies, revealed that excessive internet use is associated with a reduction in the volume of grey matter in brain regions involved in reward processing, impulse control, and decision-making. “These changes reflect patterns observed in substance addictions,” says Moshel, comparing them to the effects of methamphetamines and alcohol. That’s not all. The research also found that “these neuroanatomical changes in adolescents coincide with disruptions in processes such as identity formation and social cognition — critical aspects of development during this stage.” This creates a kind of feedback loop, where the most vulnerable individuals are often the most affected. According to a study published in Nature in November, people with poorer mental health are more likely to engage with junk content, which further exacerbates their symptoms. In December, psychologist Carlos Losada offered advice to EL PAÍS on how to avoid falling into the trap of doomscrolling — or, in other words, being consumed by the endless cycle of junk content amplified by algorithms. His recommendations included recognizing the problem, making a conscious effort to disconnect, and engaging in activities that require physical presence, such as meeting friends or playing sports. “These activities are critical for brain health and overall wellbeing, helping to balance the potentially damaging effects of prolonged screen use,” explains Moshel, who stresses that the type of content consumed plays a pivotal role in shaping brain anatomy. “Focus on both the quality and quantity of screen time. Prioritize educational content that avoids addictive features. Set clear, age-appropriate limits on daily screen use and encourage regular breaks.” Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition Tu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo ¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción? Si continúas leyendo en este dispositivo, no se podrá leer en el otro. ¿Por qué estás viendo esto? Tu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo y solo puedes acceder a EL PAÍS desde un dispositivo a la vez. Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium, así podrás añadir otro usuario. Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS. En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí. Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital. TikTok Instagram Facebook Internet The toll of Taliban laws on Afghan women’s mental health: ‘I break down at night on my prayer mat. Every day, the morality police insult me’ A breathalyzer test leads to a diplomatic clash between Argentina and Russia The effects of ‘brain rot’: How junk content is damaging our minds Why tidying up or repotting plants can bring us joy: The psychology behind ‘refuge pleasures’ Amid uncertainty and fear, thousands of migrants prepare for the closure of shelters in New York Pornhub to block Florida users on January 1 to protest war on porn After having some fingers and his ears removed, The Black Alien abandons his body modification project Chevy Chase, the beloved comedian who was a monster off camera: ‘Not everyone hated him, just the people who’ve worked with him’ Tourism amid power cuts and food shortages: Why does Cuba continue to invest in hotels?

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While many an Arcane fan is beside themselves wondering whether or not Riot Games and Fortiche will release a longer, steamier director ‘s cut of the Emmy award-winning Netflix series’ second and final season, others are doubled over laughing at how the series went above and beyond to censor queer relationships overseas. In the broader context, LGBTQ events and media have faced significant challenges under China’s Xi Jinping administration, leading to the closure of queer events and a halt in activism . In terms of media representation, this has led to the editing of queer relationships from television shows to eliminate their portrayal. It sucks, and it extends its silly hand over the distribution of Arcane . In the aftermath of Arcane ‘s finale, viewers in the West have taken to sharing clips displaying how Fortiche’s animated series, which prominently features a queer relationship at the center of its ensuing story, went about obfuscating them. In turning a negative into a positive, fans are using overseas censorship of queer representation in Arcane as an opportunity to laugh at how it goes above and beyond to recontextualize relationships that are fundamentally queer into the age-old adage of people just being roommates. Exhibit A: Caitlyn Kiramann’s rebound with her subordinate, Maddie Nolen, at the start of the season’s second act. Initially, the scene sees Caitlyn contemplating the descent of her fascism while Maddie tries to coax her back to bed. Given Maddie’s incessant neck kisses and the two being dressed in loose-fitting loungewear, the assumption is that they just got done making love. The scene’s introduction was pretty ingenious on the animators’ part by getting fans in an uproar from the previous act’s big moment, having Caitlyn and Vi’s grand opening and grand closing of their 20-minute relationship followed up by her seemingly moving on and coming to grips with her mistakes. Although the censored version of the scene still maintains those ideas, it does away with the macro and microexpressions and blocking that made the scene hit so hard for viewers. Exhibit B: “ Caitvi ” and the curious absence of their physical intimacy. Similarly to Caitlyn’s scene with Maddie in act two, act three of Arcane sees her final scene with her Vi altered. The original scene has both characters cuddled close as they reaffirm their commitment to each other. Instead, the scene plays out far more awkwardly, removing either character from close-up shots and making them look like they are resting on invisible shoulders. For those wondering what has become of their highly discussed sex scene , the scene is cut out entirely . Though, as a consolation, folks overseas still get to witness Caitlyn cavalierly leaning against a wall, smirking, and telling Vi she’s become predictable. Arcane ‘s overseas censorship of Caitvi, the series’ it couple, echoes a similar phenomenon: Nickelodeon censored the canonization of The Legend of Korra ‘s Korrasami ship . Although the pairing was allowed to explicitly be a couple in subsequent comics , the show’s finale only showcased the start of their relationship by having them walk into a portal hand in hand. The situation is made all the more curious when you consider numerous regional Netflix social media accounts like Caitvi’s strongest soldier, Netflix Brasil , have been virtually shouting from the rooftop for years about the ship. That account even promoted a mural of the show’s final season with Caitlyn and Vi’s embrace as its centerpiece . Despite the overseas censorship of queer content in Arcane diminishing the delight of witnessing one of the most successful video game adaptations ever to feature queer characters prominently, fans refuse to let it overshadow this significant milestone. All episodes of Arcane ‘s final season are streaming on Netflix.