Welcome to Students Incorporated. I'm your host,
Mr. Jason. Join me weekly as my students and
I bring you content that's informative, positive,
fun, and uplifting. This podcast is created and
produced with the help of students from the International
Community School of Bangkok. Hello and welcome
back to the podcast. I'm your host, Mr. Jason.
And joining me today are co -hosts James and
Dorcas, a .k .a. Midnight. And we have two student
guests joining us today as well. So welcome to
everyone. So let's get real for a second. Have
you ever picked up your phone to check one notification
only to find that an hour later you've watched
100 short videos and can't even remember what
you were looking for in the first place? If you
felt that mental fog, that feeling of being chronically
online, then you're no stranger to the popular
and growing term that's online. That term is
brain rot. In this episode, we're looking into
the world of brain rot, the viral term used to
describe endless scrolling, weird humor, and
the meme culture shaping how much of the online
generation thinks and talks today. From TikTok
trends to internet slang, we'll break down how
memes and media fuel this craze, why it resonates
so strongly with us, and what it all says about
our digital age. So get ready for a mix of cultural
analysis, relatable examples, and student perspectives
on the media that defines their generation. This
is going to be a fun and fascinating conversation.
But first, let's hear our quote of the day and
get some headline news. Our quote of the day
comes from Dr. John Mayer, a respected psychologist.
He said, when we experience intense focus or
fascination, our brains release dopamine, creating
a cycle of reward that keeps us engaged. This
quote was chosen because it works on two levels
for our topic today. On the surface, the word
focus describes what brain rot feels like, the
way we can't stop thinking about a favorite character
or story. But on a deeper level, Dr. Mayer explains
how this intense interest actually affects our
brain chemistry, making us want to keep coming
back for more. Brain rot isn't just a fun obsession.
It's a real psychological process that drives
creativity, connection, and joy. It reminds us
that being passionate about something, even a
fictional world, is a natural part of how our
minds find pleasure and meaning. And that's our
quote of the day. Now on to some headline news.
Thank you for our quote of the day. Now let's
dive into some headline news from around the
world. Our first story comes from Psychology
Today, which weighs in on the impact of TikTok
trends on young people. They write, While brain
rot isn't a clinical diagnosis, we can't ignore
the profound effect that rapid algorithm -driven
content has on the developing brain's capacity
for deep focus. This article gathers opinions
from child psychologists who are debating whether
it is a real neurological concern or just the
latest moral panic about new media. Next up,
an article from Forbes looks at how this is affecting
the workplace. It notes, And finally, a report
from Edutopia highlights how schools are trying
to tackle the problem head -on. An educator in
the report states, we realize we can't just ban
the technology. We have to give students the
mental tools to navigate it. We're essentially
teaching them to be mindful consumers of information,
not just passive scrollers. This story covers
new digital literacy and mindfulness programs
being rolled out in schools to help students
practice sustained focus. And that's our headline
news from around the world. And we are back.
I'm here with James Midnight and our student
guest Pun and Proud to break down the phenomenon
of brain rot. In my introduction, I offered a
general definition of brain rot, this idea of
endless scrolling and internet heavy humor. But
I love to hear from you guys directly. Pun, when
you hear the term brain rot, does that definition
resonate with you? What does it mean in your
daily life? Yeah, definitely. For me, it's not
just the scrolling, it's the language. It's when
you've spent so much time online that the inside
jokes from TikTok or memes start showing up in
how you talk. It's using terms like skibbity
or riz and having them make perfect sense to
your friends, but completely nonsensical to anyone
else. It's like your brain is just full of references
to things that only exist online. That's a great
point. The language aspect is huge. How about
you, Proud? What comes to your mind? I agree
with Pun on the language, but for me, it's also
the feeling of it. It's that mental fog you mentioned.
It's when I realize I've been watching YouTube
shorts for 45 minutes and my brain feels slow.
It needs a moment to reboot. The videos are so
fast and random that my thoughts feel scattered
afterwards. And it's hard to focus on something
complex, like starting my homework. So it's both
an external culture and an internal feeling.
Let's look into the content itself. Is all brain
rot the same? For example, is there a difference
between a simple absurd mean trend versus the
really deep complex lore you might find in a
fandom or a video game community? Pun, what do
you think? Oh, there's a huge difference. There
are levels to it. Level one is the surface level
stuff, the random soundbite -driven memes that
are funny for a week and then disappear. It's
low effort, high reward humor. But then you have
the deeper stuff, the lore. It could be about
a niche web series, a video game, or even a creator's
running gags. Understanding that... requires
history you have to have been there to get the
joke that kind of content feels less like rot
but and and more like being part of a subculture
it's rewarding in a different way hello my friends
man i here yeah the idea of subculture is really
interesting you mentioned it's kind of like an
inside joke does that share language and understanding
create a strong sense of community or can it
be isolating do you ever feel like you're in
a bubble And it's like hard to connect with people
or even like older family members who aren't
in on that joke. It's definitely both. The community
is real. Finding people who understand a super
niche reference is an amazing feeling. It's how
a lot of online friendship starts. But it can
be isolating in the real world. I definitely
made a reference to a meme in a conversation
with my parents and just got in a completely
blank stare. It's not that I can't talk to them,
but it's highlighting a big part of my cultural
world is totally invisible to them. It can feel
like you're speaking to a different... language
for sure that experience you're both describing
ties back to the psychology of it all proud you
mentioned the mental fog and fun you talked about
the low effort high reward humor it makes me
think about the quote i shared from dr mayer
about the brain's dopamine cycle does consuming
this type of media feel like you're actively
seeking the reward that he mentioned like you're
hunting for that funny video or is it more of
a passive almost mindless habit that you just
fall into I think it starts as a hunt. You're
looking for something entertaining, but after
a while, the algorithm is so good that you don't
even have to hunt anymore. You can just swipe
and the next thing is already there. It becomes
passive very quickly and that's when you lose
track of time. That leads to an interesting thought
I have. If you're constantly being fed this content,
do you find that your brain adapts to it? Does
content have to become weirder, faster, or more
shocking to get that same level of laugh or hold
your attention? Is there a kind of desensitization
effect? I think so. A meme that was hilarious
six months ago can be seen boring now. The pace
of trends is incredibly fast. Something is popular
for a week, and then everyone moves on. And to
stand out, new content often has to be more absurd
or chaotic. It's like a constant escalation of
weirdness, and you get used to that. That escalation
is exactly what the Psychology Today article
I found was concerned about. The impact on the
developing brain. It questions whether brain
rot is a genuine neurological concern or is it
just the latest moral panic. From your guys'
point of view, do you think the concern for psychologists
and parents is justified? Or do you think it's
just like an overreaction to your generation's
culture? I think it's a little of both. The concern
of how attention spans is real. I see it in myself
and my friends when we have to read a book for
class. It feels harder to stay focused for long
periods. But at the same time, I think adults
sometimes miss the good parts. The memes and
trends are a huge source of creativity and connection
for us. It's how we build community. So calling
it rot feels a bit harsh, like they're dismissing
the entire culture behind it. I think that's
a crucial point. Historically, older generations
have always been worried about new media. They
said about rock and roll, video games, and even
the novel. Do you see this as just a 21st century
version of that same panic, or does something
about the algorithm, the speed, and the personalization
of it feel fundamentally different this time?
Yeah, it feels different. With old media like
TV, everyone was mostly watching the same few
things. But with algorithms, everyone's experience
is unique. My... For you, Page is completely
different from Proud. The personalization makes
it way more powerful and maybe a little more
dangerous. The app knows exactly what will keep
you watching. This is a level of influence that
older media never had. It's not just a broadcast,
it's a conversation between you and a machine
designed to hold your attention. That's a powerful
way to put it. It reminds me of the Forbes article
about the attention economy. It basically argues
that in the modern world, the most valuable resource
is human attention. Does it ever feel like you're
in a battle for your own focus and that these
apps are designed to win that battle? All the
time. I actively have to put my phone in another
room to get work done. I use app timers. It's
a conscious effort to reclaim my own focus. So
yes, it absolutely feels like a battle sometimes
and you don't always have to win. That's a great
place to pause. We've gone from defining brain
rot to unpacking its social dynamics, its psychological
hooks, and the powerful role of the algorithm.
It's clear this is a complex issue with no easy
answers. When we come back from the break, I
want to dive deeper into the real -world consequences
you've both touched on, the good and the bad,
that we're seeing in schools, our relationships,
and even the workplace. All right, we'll be right
back after this short PSA announcement. One,
two, three, four. Hello, my friends. We're taking
a quick pause from our conversation for our public
service announcement about the very topic we're
discussing today. Every year, the Oxford University
Press chooses a single word of the year. It is
a word or expression that is judged to reflect
the vibe of the past 12 months. In 2022, it was
Goblin Mode. In 2023, it was Riz. And in 2024,
Oxford's word of the year was Brain Rock. This
term describes a perceived decline in mental
and intellectual ability due to the excessive
consumption of low -quality online content, especially
from social media platforms like TikTok, and
can also refer to slang words and memes that
emerge from this online culture. Let that sink
in. Of all the words that define our global conversation
in politics technology and culture the one that
rose to the top was a slang term for feeling
being overstimulated and chronically online this
tells us that this isn't just a niche internet
joke it is a widespread cultural experience the
feeling of a scattered attention span the endless
scroll and a mind filled with memes became so
universal that it was chosen to represent the
entire year this isn't a judgment It's a diagnosis.
It's a mirror showing us our collective state
of mind. So the next time you pick up your phone,
just take a moment to be mindful. Think about
your digital diet. What are you feeding your
brain? This has been a public service announcement
and hopefully a warning to all of us. Now back
to our discussion. All right. Welcome back. We
just heard that brain rot was named Oxford's
word of the year for 2024. which cements how
significant this phenomena is. Before we dive
into some specific examples of the language,
I want to explore the bigger picture. Why does
it feel like online language is evolving faster
right now than at any other point in history?
It seems like we've moved from a known quantity
with Gen Z slang into a whole new territory.
Well, I think a huge part of it is the generational
handoff. Gen Z grew up on social media. But Gen
Alpha was born into an ecosystem dominated by
TikTok. For Gen Z, platforms like Instagram and
YouTube were the training ground. For Gen Alpha,
the default is the algorithm, a constant stream
of hyper -fast, audio -driven, and context -collapsing
content. Their brains are being wired from a
much younger age to communicate in this mode,
so their language has to be even more efficient
and attention -grabbing. Exactly, and it changes
the entire purpose of the slang. I was looking
through the resources Mr. Jason sent, and one
of them is Brain Rock Slang 2025, and it makes
a key point. It says popular Gen Z words serve
as cultural markers for digital communities.
Words like slay or spilling the tea helped build
a shared identity for Gen Z. Now, Gen Alpha is
taking that foundation and remixing it into something
else. They aren't just creating cultural markers.
They're creating entire microcultures that might
only live for a week. The pace itself has become
the culture. Yeah, that's a fascinating distinction.
Pun and proud. You're in the front lines of this.
Does it feel like there's a real difference between
the slang Gen Z established and what you're seeing
emerge now with Gen Alpha? Oh, absolutely. The
slang I hear like no cap feels normal and has
clear rules. We use it to describe things, but
the new wave of slang feels much more random
and chaotic. It's less about describing a feeling
and more about creating a bizarre moment. You
can see the shift happening in real time. My
younger brother used words that... I don't even
understand sometimes. And they've only been online
for a few years. Yeah, I think the key difference
is absurdity. One of the articles mentions that
the new slang has a playful, sometimes absurd
quality. And that's the perfect description.
Yeah, Gen Z slang was often clever or empowering.
But Gen Alpha slang leans more into being nonsensical
on purpose. The goal isn't just to be an inside
joke but to be a joke so inside that it barely
has an origin point it's about proving you were
there for the split second that it mattered it's
the next level of being chronically online so
it's a progression gen z built the house with
a shared set of slang and now gen alpha is consistently
redecorating the rooms in the house with absurd,
fast -moving slang or memes. This is the perfect
foundation for what we're doing next. To make
this real for our listeners, we've compiled a
top 10 list of the essential brain rot words,
a mix of Gen Z classics and Gen Alpha absurdities.
Let's start the countdown. Proud, what's at number
10? At number 10, we have a Gen Z classic that
set the stage, Spilling the Tea. This means sharing
gossip or revealing interest information. A perfect
starting point. It's foundational and it shows
how online conversations about drama became normalized.
All right, Pun, what's next at number 9? All
right, at number 9 is another Gen Z pillar, Slay.
It's a term of empowerment used when someone
does something exceptionally well. Okay, for
number eight, we have cringe. This describes
something so awkwardly embarrassing that you
feel it for the other person. All right, the
Ultimate Gen Z Slang Guide article listed cringe
as a core term. It's the word we use to police
the boundaries of what's socially acceptable
online. Pun, what's number seven? Coming up in
at number seven is no cap. Simple, it means no
lie or for real. It's a stamp of authenticity.
For number six, we've got bussin', which is almost
exclusively for describing delicious food. For
real, though, have you heard anybody actually
say this word while eating? Okay, so there's
a song from Stray Kids, and it's called Super
Bowl, and it's from the album Five Star, and
that word has appeared more than once. For example,
one of the lyrics is, our dish here so bussin'.
So, yeah. Okay. There's bussin' for you. All
right, halfway done here. What's number five
on our top ten slang words? Pun. This one is
probably my favorite. Okay, at number five is
goblin mode. Oxford's 2022 word of the year.
It's the rejection of social pressure, embracing
a lazy, self -indulgent state. Wow. Well, this
slang word is a direct reaction to the highly
curated Perfect aesthetic of early Instagram.
A very Gen Z move. According to our research,
goblin mode is a way that means to reject social
norms and disregard expectations for neatness
and productivity. This is often promoted online
and can be represented by staying in your pajamas,
eating unhealthy snacks, and letting certain
physical standards slip. Some suggest it was
a reaction to the pandemic. Others suggest that
is a counterpoint to the highly curated and perfect
aesthetic standards often found online by influencers.
So, word of advice, don't go into goblin mode
at school. Okay, what's next? Number four is
Oxford's 2023 Word of the Year, RIS. It's short
for charisma and describing the idea of having
natural charm without having to try. Now, moving
on to number three. Yes, number three. This is
where things start getting weirder. Number three
is delusion. This is a short for delusional.
It's about embracing unrealistic fantasies as
a coping mechanism. I love this. The phrase is
delusional is the solution. Or delusional is
the solution. This is the bridge to Gen Alpha's
mindset. It's self -aware detachment from reality.
Proud, what's the next one? At number two, we
have cooked or, you know, cooking, a word with
opposite meanings. If you're cooked, you're done
for or finished. It's a negative thing. If you're
cooking, you're in the zone or you're doing great
things. It's a positive thing. Context is everything
with cooked and cooking. The ultimate linguistic
efficiency. And finally, the number one brain
rot term on our list. Pun, what is it? Our number
one is the number... Six, seven. This is pure
Gen Alpha level brain rot. It has no meaning.
It's an inside joke from a game that became a
nonsensical punchline. The joke is that it's
meaningless. One month ago, this term flooded
TikTok and at that time showed over 1 .1 million
related videos. I'm sure that the number is much
higher now. Here's an explanation. If you still
don't get it, the slang 6 -7 can be used to express
just about anything from a simple yes, okay,
or no problem. A statement of uncertainty, excitement,
or humor as well. The meaning is highly contextual
and depends on the speaker's intent and the community
using the term. It can sometimes be a funny placeholder
with no specific meaning at all. Wow, that is
a very long explanation to give about a slang
word that does not have a real definitive meaning.
But thank you, Pun, for doing that. So this particular
word, it's actually two words, six and seven.
The slang term's meaning changes depending on
the intended situation and the person using it.
And that's the final evolution. Language that
has become so detached from meaning that its
only purpose is to signal that you are part of
the absolute most current in -group. It's perfect
and slightly mind -numbing, symbol for a culture
where knowing the joke is more important than
the joke itself. And that's the core of it, isn't
it? This isn't about fun words. It's about social
gatekeeping, in a way. The speed and the absurdity
creates a clear dividing line. Those who know,
know. And those who don't are made to feel like
outsiders. It's like an invisible wall. And if
you have to ask what 6 -7 means, you've just
proven you're on the other side of it. I see
that, but I don't think it's intentionally malicious.
It's less about actively excluding people and
more about quickly finding your own community.
The internet is huge and anonymous. Using the
slang is like sending up a flare. The people
who get it are the people who will get you. It's
a filter to finding your own people in group.
Oh yeah, that's so real. It's like a digital
secret handshake in a world where everyone can
see everything. Having a language that only a
specific niche group understands creates a private
space. The exclusion isn't the goal, but it's
a necessary byproduct of creating a sense of
belonging and identity in a very loud public
world. Yeah, and I think that perfectly captures
the complexity of this topic. It's a cultural
marker, but it's also a communication barrier.
It's a creative outlet that also functions as
a social filter, creating these distinct in -groups
and out -groups. We've journeyed from the psychological
drivers of this rapid linguistic evolution to
a very real generational shift. And this list
has shown us how it all works in practice. What
might seem like nonsensical brain rot on the
surface is actually a deeply human response to
our hyper -digital world, a reflection of how
we build identity, find belonging, and decide
who gets to be on the inside, whether it's intentional
or not. Our top 10 list took us from mainstream
terms like slay all the way to the pure mind
-numbing absurdity of 6 -7. It really proves
that what might seem like nonsensical brain rot
on the surface is actually a deeply human response
to our hyper -digital world, a reflection of
how we build identity, find belonging, and play
with the very fabric of communication. Language
is a cultural marker, and the speed of its evolution
is a gatekeeping tool for those who can keep
up in the... those who can't keep up. Anyways,
it's time to put the fries in the bag and hopefully
you felt like we were able to give you the 411
on 6 -7. So thank you for sticking around to
the end. And that brings us to the end of our
exploration into memes, media, and the brain
rot phenomenon. Thanks to my co -host and student
guests for joining us on this episode today.
We've discussed how the term brain rot went from
niche internet slang to Oxford's word of the
year and the fact that there is now a term attached
to the consumption of low -value online content,
content that doesn't really add any real value
to your life. We've looked at the psychology
that keeps us scrolling, and we've seen how this
fast -paced language is a creative playground
for a new generation. I think the biggest takeaway
is that behind all the absurdity and the inside
jokes, there's a very real and very human search
for connection and community, good or bad. So
thank you for listening to our brain rot episode.
We hope this conversation gives you a new lens
through which to see the memes and trends that
fill your social media feeds. I'm your host,
Mr. Jason. Don't forget to subscribe. We put
our new episodes out every week. And as always,
this podcast would not be possible without the
hard work and support of our international student
production team. All music and sound effects
are courtesy of Pixabay .com, a vibrant community
of creatives sharing copyright -free images,
videos, and music. And we are signing off until
next time. We are Students Incorporated, because
your voice matters.