Oxford's 2024 Word of the Year: Brain Rot Explained

"Brain rot" has been named the Oxford University 2024 Word of the Year, reflecting concerns about the impact of consuming excessive low-quality online content, particularly on social media. The term, which saw a 230% increase in usage from 2023 to 2024, describes the perceived deterioration of mental or intellectual capacity due to trivial content consumption. Although first used by Henry David Thoreau in 1854, it has gained popularity among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl notes the word highlights societal anxieties about virtual life.