Is Your Brain Rotting? The Dangers of Consuming Low-Quality Digital Content!

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:36 | Digital Transformation | Editorial INTI

Jakarta, INTI – In today's rapidly evolving digital era, the use of digital devices has become an inseparable part of daily life. According to the 2024 State of Mobile report by Data.AI, the average Indonesian spends 5.7 hours per day on gadgets, making Indonesia the country with the highest digital device usage in the world. However, this high consumption of digital content has given rise to a concerning phenomenon known as brain rot.

What Is Brain Rot?

The term brain rot is not a new concept. Henry David Thoreau first used it in 1854 in his book Walden to criticize society’s preference for shallow entertainment over deep thinking. Today, the term has resurfaced and was even named the “Word of the Year 2024” by Oxford University Press.

In modern contexts, brain rot refers to cognitive decline caused by excessive consumption of low-quality digital content. Short, shallow, sensational, and often misleading content—commonly found on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram—can condition the brain to seek instant stimulation, ultimately weakening critical and analytical thinking skills.

The Impact of Brain Rot on Mental and Cognitive Health

According to Laurie Ann Manwell, a psychologist from Canada, excessive gadget use can negatively affect various cognitive and emotional aspects, including:

Declining Cognitive Abilities
Consuming low-quality content can reduce deep thinking capabilities, complex information processing, analytical skills, and creativity.
Emotional Regulation Issues
Individuals who frequently engage with shallow content tend to be more prone to anxiety, stress, and even depression.
Decreased Productivity
Being accustomed to instant information makes it harder to focus on tasks that require deep thought and long-term concentration.
Social Isolation
Spending too much time in the digital world can lead to disconnection from real-world surroundings, affecting social life and emotional well-being.

How to Prevent Brain Rot from Low-Quality Digital Consumption

To avoid the negative effects of brain rot, consider these preventive measures:

Curate Your Digital Content Consumption
Mark Travers, a psychologist writing for Forbes, suggests auditing the types of content consumed and applying the 80/20 rule—80% of content should be informative or beneficial, while 20% can be light entertainment.
Limit Screen Time
Setting daily limits on social media usage—such as 30 minutes per day—can reduce exposure to low-quality content and improve focus on more productive activities.
Increase Real-World Interactions
Reducing digital dependency by engaging in real-world activities like reading books, spending time with family, or pursuing hobbies can improve emotional well-being.
Train Your Thinking Skills
Counteract the effects of shallow content by exercising your brain through activities like playing chess, solving puzzles, or reading and analyzing in-depth materials.
Maintain Physical Health
Physical health plays a crucial role in brain function. According to Bryan Robinson, Ph.D., in Forbes, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep contribute to better cognitive function and help prevent cognitive decline.

Conclusion

Brain rot is a serious issue in the digital era, leading to cognitive, emotional, and social decline. Therefore, it is essential to be more selective with digital content consumption and adopt a balanced lifestyle between the digital and real worlds. With the right steps, we can maintain mental well-being and improve our quality of life in an age of rapid and instant information.

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