The word "brain rot" has now earned the title of Oxford's Word of the Year. However, many might not be familiar with this term. Wondering what it means?

It refers to the feeling of exhaustion or emptiness after scrolling on your phone for an extended period, or forgetting why you even picked up your phone in the first place. If you've ever experienced this, you're dealing with "brain rot."

According to a report by BBC on Monday, specialists from Oxford University Press explained that excessive exposure to low-quality content on social media deteriorates both mental and intellectual well-being. This phenomenon is captured by the term "brain rot," which has seen a 230% increase in usage between 2023 and 2024.

Professor Andrew Przybylski, a psychologist at Oxford University, noted that the growing popularity of the term highlights the nature of the times we live in.

"Brain" refers to the mind, while "rot" means decay. When you mindlessly engage in trivial activities that require no cognitive effort, your mental or intellectual state deteriorates. This is what is known as brain rot. The term was first coined by American author Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 book 'Walden', though not in its current context.

Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages, commented, "Looking at Oxford's Word of the Year selections over the past two decades, it’s clear how the development of the virtual world and internet culture has become deeply embedded in our lives."