Benjamin Johnson Comments on the ‘Brain Rot’ Phenomenon

Benjamin Johnson, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Advertising associate professor and director of the STEM Translational Communication Center, was quoted in “Do You Have ‘Brain Rot?’ A Neurologist Reveals if the Viral Term Causes Real Symptoms” published on NBC’s today.com on June 5.

The story focuses on “brain rot,” a tongue-in-cheek term for spending too much time online viewing intentionally nonsensical memes. Voted Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year, the term also refers to the type of content that can contribute to such overstimulation.

According to Johnson, brain rot, a phrase popular among Gen Z and Alpha, is also a notably self-deprecating term.

“It’s like, ‘This is bad for me, but this is fun. This is a guilty pleasure,'” said Johnson. “In some ways, brain rot sounds a lot like burnout, both of which share features of depression and executive function disorders. For many people, brain rot symptoms are likely situational or change day to day, hour to hour. But for some people, signs of brain rot could be part of a clinical issue.”

“Self-control is something that’s very limited. Sometimes we use up our self-control resources, and that’s when you need a break. Consuming easy, fun, digestible media can be a way to give yourself that break. It can be restorative,” he said.

Johnson likens concerns about social media to those about video games and MTV in previous decades. He emphasizes that everyone is different, and while the effects might be small overall, some people may be especially susceptible due to underlying mental health issues or their age.

Category: College News
Tagged: Benjamin Johnson Social Media STEM Translational Communication Center
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