‘Brain rot’ – word of the year 2024

General, Musings, , ,   2 comments  

My personal word of the year is demonize. But …

A commentary on how “we are using our free time” … an ongoing “cultural conversation about humanity and technology.”

• AP News > “How to sum up 2024? The Oxford University Press word of the year is ‘brain rot’” (December 2, 2024) – chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers, it beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore.

Oxford University Press said Monday that the evocative phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before.

More taste, less filling …

• Oxford University Press > “Oxford Word of the Year 2024” by Casper Grathwohl (December 2024) – The first recorded use of ‘brain rot’ was found in 1854 in Henry David Thoreau’s book Walden, but has taken on new significance as an expression in the digital age.


(n.) Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a 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.

2 comments on “‘Brain rot’ – word of the year 2024”

  1. Tell me what you see ...

    Not to be outdone, Merriam-Webster announced their word of the year, which comes closer to my personal word of the year.

    • LA Times 12-10-2024 > “Merriam-Webster deems ‘polarization’ word of the year” by Anna Furman

    “Polarization means division, but it’s a very specific kind of division,” Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, said in an interview ahead of Monday’s announcement. “Polarization means that we are tending toward the extremes rather than toward the center.”

    Merriam-Webster, which logs 100 million page views a month on its site, chooses its word of the year based on data, tracking a rise in search and usage.

    Rounding out Merriam-Webster’s top 10 words of 2024:

    Demure. …
    Fortnight. …
    Totality. …
    Resonate. …
    Allision. …
    Weird. …
    Cognitive. …
    Pander. …
    Democracy. …

  2. Happy brain ... smart brain

    Just in time for the holidays, here’re some tips for a happy brain, not just holiday highs.

    • Forbes > “10 Habits To Prevent ‘Brain Rot’ And Create A Smart Brain In 2025” by Bryan Robinson, Ph.D., Contributor, author of Chained to the Desk in a Hybrid World: A Guide to Balance (12-6-2024)

    Key points

    • Psychological Safety – Fear and uncertainty undermine well-being, engagement and workplace performance.
    • Mood-Boosting Foods
    • Blood Flow – Regular exercise and movement amp up blood flow to the brain and even slow the onset of memory loss and dementia.
    • Ample Sleep
    • Broad Perspective
    • Mindfulness
    • Brain Fitness and Novelty
    • Outdoors
    • Order, Not Chaos – Multitasking neutralizes efficiency, overwhelms your brain and causes fractured thinking and brain fatigue.
    • Social Support

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