Brain Rot

 

Today’s essay is based on the article  “The Brain Rot Generation Has Its Reasons”found in the September 13, 2026 edition of the New York Times .. 

This Assistant Prof. research pertained to the shaping of human behavior by digital environments . He and another researcher Interviewed Gen Z ers age 13 to 26 about how they experience brain rot - what these videos meant to them .

According to him, these subjects were aware of what brain rot is doing to their minds; they are searching for a way out.

The following are some of Gen Z responses: 1.You’ll watch something anyway so why not brain rot?  It’s actually better than an ad because it doesn’t demand anything from you .  2.  If everything is content.  Now, brain rot is anti-content.  It’s the only way to be free online, which is to do something so stupid it can’t be monetized.  3.  Because brain rot content is visually fake and or AI generated, it feels less exploitive than polished influencer posts pretending to be candid.  4.  Everyone knows it’s generated, so it feels less manipulative than posts  that act like you’re just normal life 5.  I’m scared I won’t find something I’m actually good at, mainly because I don’t really have any hobbies.  I guess brain rot is my hobby.  Also, there is no more time during the day once you start watching.6.  They know it’s not good for them, but it gives that little hit and escape.  7.  Before the government regulated the tobacco industry, everyone was smoking, even though they knew it was bad.  Because the environment encouraged and allowed for that to happen.  Yeah, the doctors would smoke.  Now we need to get into a state where the environment shifts so young people’s habits shift.  8.  Brain rot gives you the sense that you're in on something.

These rationalizations,distortion and denial are just that and mask their anxiety ,emotional deficits, irrationality, inability to assimilate ,reason and relate . They exhibit excessive dependency, desire to fit in and be a part of it.Their electronic devices are their security blanket attachments  and “friend.”This group is limited intellectually and without insight to change  their self-defeating behaviors.  

Brain rot is associated with mental fatigue and perceived loss of critical thinking caused by consuming excessive amounts of low quality online content.  This particular article presented various responses from the subjects of their study.  It did not appear that these subjects had any in-depth knowledge, understanding of their self-inflicted harm. Their emotional deficits contribute to their lack of understanding of their deficits.  Brain rot is just another example of their plethora of self-defeating behaviors for this troubled group .

 

Without  the inability to change, these subjects, because of the loss of  the  egos executive function of critical thinking, ,become  easy prey and  more susceptible to other self-defeating ideas from aberrant character types . They create illusions ,are  paranoid , believe false information ,and lies. They are also prejudiced and  engage in stupidity. Brain rot also affects self-esteem,which are feelings about oneself And, their self-loathing , paranoia and hate is projected outward toward others.

Yes, the  technological system is exploiting , contributing and negatively affecting the brain development for so many. However, there are other additional factors contributing to this cognitive crisis.  For example, the association of too much time spent with these electronic devices regarding mental and cognitive health is not new. Research with parents found that they made poor decisions by allowing their  young children to engage.  Parents paid for these devices,  spoiled their children, encouraged use and employed the devices as “baby sitters”  giving themselves  breaks so they did not have to deal with them . 

How long did it take  some school systems to ban electronic devices during school hours?  Do children really have to have these devices available  in school for safety? Consider  Australia’s values and policies  regarding these devices.

We  know that individuals spend  too much time with their electronic devices . Yet,  not one participant reported spending too much time on a device using maps ,checking the weather or Shazaming songs.

A few statistics follow:  About 84%  of US students graduate from high school .The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends an 8th grade reading level or  If targeting a broad audience, a 12th grade reading level for an educated or specialized audience. Unfortunately ,only 35% of US high school seniors perform at or above the proficient reading level according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. In the US, 40% of fourth graders,in reading, scored below the NAEP basic level in 2024 and only 31% of fourth graders achieved NAEP proficiency in 2022.

Reading improves focus , comprehension, enhances knowledge, stimulates the brain, reduces stress, strengthens vocabulary and communication skills.  It can also boost empathy and creativity by exposing one to different perspectives and ideas.

Pursuant to reading,consider the following three examples: the billionaire Mark Cuban reads at least three hours daily.  Another billionaire in the White House reads and posts what ? And, Ari Emanuel the youngest of three brothers was diagnosed in the third grade with ADHD and dyslexia.  To supplement instruction at school, his mother spent many hours helping him to learn to read.  She hired tutors and private instructors to give him private reading lessons at home.  This man has a BA, the executive chairman of WME Group in entertainment and media agency as well as CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings. He was a founding partner of Endeavor Talent Agency and was instrumental in shaping its merger with the William Morris Agency.

Currently, the political divide also is a contributing factor.  We have the GOP distorting United States history; book banning, and a fight promoter as part of Trump’s cabinet.  She should head the Department of Education  and be okay with Trump’s dismantling in order to give local control to many irrational GOP cronies ?As a model, Trump represents lying, deceit, corruption and exploitation, but not education, learning, assimilating , reason, truth and reading. Yes he had a fraudulent University.

Parents,parent substitutes  and caretakers model all sorts of behavior. In the US about half of all adults read one or more books for pleasure each year  and about 5% read more than 50 books per year. Parents are certainly not  modeling learning,curiosity and learning.  How much time do parents spend with their electronic devices? And, Trump models  these electronic devices as well. 

Issues pertaining to  schools of  education , teacher shortages and retention follow .  Fewer candidates enter programs and many leave the profession early . The cost of college and debt result in negatives for majoring in teaching .There is also limited hands-on classroom training and mentorship before certification.  The quality and consistency of  programs vary widely ; regular curriculum relevance and  lack of support for diverse learners.  There is insufficient preparation for using digital tools in adapting to online or hybrid teaching environments.  There is also a need for better training to address diverse classrooms and inclusive practices . A high workload and shifting certification requirements discourage enrollment along with irrational school boards .And, teachers continue to have low status, female oriented, and an economic supplement  for their spouses. These challenges  and societal values impact teacher readiness, student achievement, impoverished learning and the stability of the education workforce.

In earlier times, this country had an educational system  that was envied worldwide. Not so today .The United  States  currently ranks 12th globally in education.  And, American students continue to rank around the middle of the pack behind many other advanced industrial nations with international assessments in math, science and reading  according to the PISA .

Our brain rot  technological culture has been hijacked  by economic inequality  along with ineffective politics and  ineffective parenting .Furthermore, the  brain rot crisis  is  not  effectively addressed by local, state, and / or the federal government. Instead, the  media focuses on  AI, mid term elections,Iran, gas price, inflation , Trump’s ballroom ,Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and  the 250 foot triumphal arch.