'Brain rot' was chosen as the Oxford Word of the Year 2024 after a public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers, beating five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy, and lore.
The term refers to the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of low quality trashy online content. It can also describe something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration.
Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl notes that looking back at the Oxford Word of the Year over the past two decades, “you can see society’s growing preoccupation with how our virtual lives are evolving, the way internet culture is permeating so much of who we are and what we talk about.” He adds that “brain rot” speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time.
According to Oxford University Press. The term’s usage increased by 230% between 2023 and 2024.
'Brain rot' has been around since 1854, when Henry David Thoreau wrote about it in his book “Walden.” However, it gained new prominence in 2023, particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha communities on social media platforms like X and TikTok.
Critics say the selection of “brain rot” as the Word of the Year reflects society’s growing concerns about the impact of excessive online content consumption on mental health, particularly among young people.
Can the human psyche survive this explosion of trashy online content for much longer?
