Oxford’s “Brain Rot” Word of the Year Sparks Debate
Oxford University Press declared “brain rot” its Word of the Year, reflecting the perceived decline in mental acuity stemming from excessive consumption of low-value online content. The term, defined as a deterioration of mental state due to overconsumption of trivial material, experienced a 250% surge in usage this year, predominantly on social media platforms like TikTok. Oxford notes the term’s origins in Thoreau’s *Walden*, highlighting its enduring relevance in an era of readily available, often low-quality, online information. The selection underscores concerns about the impact of online content on cognitive well-being.
John Q. Hosedrinker