review · Brain Sciences
Brain rot describes cognitive decline and mental exhaustion linked to the excessive consumption of low-quality online content, notably across social media platforms. A rapid review of research published between 2023 and 2024 shows that this phenomenon predominantly affects adolescents and young adults through persistent digital immersion. Overuse of social platforms and video games triggers dopamine-driven feedback loops that reinforce compulsive behaviours, including doomscrolling and zombie scrolling. In turn, individuals experience emotional desensitisation, cognitive overload, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and an undermined self-concept. These outcomes directly impair essential executive functions, especially memory, planning, and decision-making capabilities. Mitigating the phenomenon requires proactive measures, such as monitoring and controlling screen time, curating digital feeds, engaging in non-digital activities, and adopting mindful technology habits to protect cognitive resilience and mental well-being.
As digital media increasingly dominates daily life, excessive consumption of low-quality online material threatens the cognitive development and mental health of younger generations. Recognising how continuous digital consumption damages focus and executive function helps parents, educators, and healthcare practitioners introduce balanced technology habits. Clear guidance on digital consumption supports healthier emotional well-being and protects vital cognitive skills.
This work represents early-stage conceptual research that does not introduce a tested product. The findings could inform developers of digital wellbeing applications, parental control software, and digital mental health programmes targeting adolescents and educators. However, because the study synthesises existing literature rather than trialling an intervention, any resulting commercial tool or clinical application remains in the early developmental phase.
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<b>Background/Objectives</b>: The widespread phenomenon of "brain rot", named the Oxford Word of the Year 2024, refers to the cognitive decline and mental exhaustion experienced by individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, due to excessive exposure to low-quality online materials, especially on social media. The present study is exploratory and interpretative in nature, aiming to investigate the phenomenon of "brain rot", with a focus on its key pillars, psychological factors, digital behaviors, and the cognitive impact resulting from the overconsumption of low-quality digital content. <b>Methods</b>: This study employs a rapid review approach, examining research published between 2023 and 2024 across PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. It explores the causes and effects of brain rot, focusing on the overuse of social media, video games, and other digital platforms. <b>Results</b>: The findings reveal that brain rot leads to emotional desensitization, cognitive overload, and a negative self-concept. It is associated with negative behaviors, such as doomscrolling, zombie scrolling, and social media addiction, all linked to psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. These factors impair executive functioning skills, including memory, planning, and decision-making. The pervasive nature of digital media, driven by dopamine-driven feedback loops, exacerbates these effects. <b>Conclusions</b>: The study concludes by offering strategies to prevent brain rot, such as controlling screen time, curating digital content, and engaging in non-digital activities. Given the increasing prevalence of digital engagement, it is essential to explore a variety of strategies, including mindful technology use, to support cognitive health and emotional well-being. The results can guide various stakeholders-policymakers, practitioners, researchers, educators, and parents or caregivers-in addressing the pervasive impact of brain rot and promoting a balanced approach to technology use that fosters cognitive resilience among adolescents and young adults.
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DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15030283
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