Since 2004, Oxford University Press has given us the word of the year, picked through public voting and language data evaluated by experts. After 37,000 votes were cast, the word chosen for its platinum anniversary is ‘brain rot.’ Adding to the growing trend of word of the year being created by online culture.
Definition
Oxford defines brain rot 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. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration.”
Origins
The term has become widespread in the past few years, but it first appeared in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book “Walden.” The novel is a reflection of Thoreau’s attempt at simple living in natural surroundings. He arrives at the conclusion that society tends to devalue complex ideas in favor of simple ones. He believes this is a byproduct of a general decline in mental and intellectual effort.
“While England endeavours to cure the potato rot, will not any endeavour to cure the brain-rot – which prevails so much more widely and fatally?”
The Rise Of Brain Rot
Brain rot is now mostly used to express concern about the impact of consuming too much low-quality online content. Content mostly targeted toward Gen Z and Alpha and its consumption of short-form content on platforms like TikTok. Between 2023 and this year, its usage frequency has increased by 230%.
An interesting thing about the term is it can be used to describe both the cause and effect of overconsuming low-quality content. It can refer to the low-value work itself or the negative impact of overconsuming such content.
There is even an emerging trend of ‘brain rot language,’ which is predominantly developing online and seeping into meatspace. Words like ‘skibidi’, meaning something nonsensical, or the new use of ‘Ohio’, to mean something embarrassing or weird are considered brain rot language. Oxford’s word of the year 2023, ‘rizz’ – meaning charisma, is another example of this.
More To It
“It’s been insightful and deeply moving to see language lovers all over the world participate and help us select the Oxford Word of the Year 2024,” said Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages.
“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. Last year’s winning word, ‘rizz’, was an interesting example of how language is increasingly formed, shaped, and shared within online communities. ‘Brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time. It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It’s not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year.”
“I find it fascinating that the term ‘brain rot’ has been adopted by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, those communities largely responsible for the use and creation of the digital content the term refers to. These communities have amplified the expression through social media channels, the very place said to cause ‘brain rot’. It demonstrates a somewhat cheeky self-awareness in the younger generations about the harmful impact of social media that they’ve inherited.”
We’d like to congratulate brain rot on becoming Oxford’s word of the year!
