Oxford University Press has declared “brain rot” as its Word of the Year for 2024.
The term highlights growing concerns over the impact of consuming low-quality online content.
It’s defined 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.
‘Brain rot’ has seen a 230% increase in usage between 2023 and 2024.
The term originally appeared in Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 work, Walden, where he criticised society’s desire for simplicity over complex ideas.
In 2024, “brain rot” has gained popularity once again, particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, to describe the effects of endless social media scrolling and exposure to trivial content.
This represents the growing influence of digital media on modern life and the conversation around its potential effects on mental health.
Among the other most popular words and terms of the year were, ‘manifest,’ ‘delulu,’ and ‘demure:
- The Cambridge Dictionary named ‘manifest’ as one of the most used
- Brat was chosen as Collins’ Word of the Year 2024
- Demure was chosen as Dictionary.com’s 2024 Word of the Year
- Delulu was shortlisted in Collin’s Dictionary Word of the Year 2024
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