“Brain Rot” and Tik Tok by Luke Barde
TikTok has spread throughout the population like wildfire. With the sudden increase in popularity of TikTok, new slang has emerged from the internet faster than before. Things such as “vibe check,” “no cap,” “bussin',” and caught in 4k are all examples of slang words that have come and gone through this. However, a new term has been forged among the fires of the internet: “brain rot.”
Brain rot is a term to describe what has been happening due to the increased use of TikTok. Brain rot does not refer to the actual rotting of your brain, but rather the decrease in attention and as well as the overstimulation of our brains. People who show signs of this brain rot might: sing random songs they heard on TikTok to fill silence, repeat random TikToks in conversations, and use current slang in and out of the current context.
TikTok itself isn't the cause of this brain rot. What causes this brain rot is the lack of moderation on the app. After interviewing a few individuals, they expressed to me that before they made a time limit on their own phones they spent up to 50 hours a week on TikTok. When it comes to TikTok audiences, many of the users are young and even too young to be using the internet by themselves according to the COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act.)
COPPA states that to be able to use the internet, you must at least be the age of 13.
TikTok isn't the problem. It's a great way to pass the time and there is so much information that can be passed around through TikTok. There are so many great recipes, fun facts, and little niche groups where people can share interests. The problem is people, especially at a young age, might not be able to learn about moderation. Giving children the power of the internet is a double-edged sword, and to give a child a sword is a scary and dangerous thing. With the age of the internet, adults and parents have to be sure to teach children about safety on the internet and gain a level of trust. Overbear children and monitoring everything they do is not the answer, but that’s how some may choose to parent and all the power to them. However, parents you should be able to talk to their children about monitoring how long they are on the internet and form a bond of trust with them.
With the new age, brain rot may not be avoidable, but it is manageable. Self-care and knowing self-control is always an important skill to learn about in and out of the internet. With that stay safe, stay positive, and as always BE NICE!
Brain rot is a term to describe what has been happening due to the increased use of TikTok. Brain rot does not refer to the actual rotting of your brain, but rather the decrease in attention and as well as the overstimulation of our brains. People who show signs of this brain rot might: sing random songs they heard on TikTok to fill silence, repeat random TikToks in conversations, and use current slang in and out of the current context.
TikTok itself isn't the cause of this brain rot. What causes this brain rot is the lack of moderation on the app. After interviewing a few individuals, they expressed to me that before they made a time limit on their own phones they spent up to 50 hours a week on TikTok. When it comes to TikTok audiences, many of the users are young and even too young to be using the internet by themselves according to the COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act.)
COPPA states that to be able to use the internet, you must at least be the age of 13.
TikTok isn't the problem. It's a great way to pass the time and there is so much information that can be passed around through TikTok. There are so many great recipes, fun facts, and little niche groups where people can share interests. The problem is people, especially at a young age, might not be able to learn about moderation. Giving children the power of the internet is a double-edged sword, and to give a child a sword is a scary and dangerous thing. With the age of the internet, adults and parents have to be sure to teach children about safety on the internet and gain a level of trust. Overbear children and monitoring everything they do is not the answer, but that’s how some may choose to parent and all the power to them. However, parents you should be able to talk to their children about monitoring how long they are on the internet and form a bond of trust with them.
With the new age, brain rot may not be avoidable, but it is manageable. Self-care and knowing self-control is always an important skill to learn about in and out of the internet. With that stay safe, stay positive, and as always BE NICE!