Caution against Brain Rot for Young People!

The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been very rapid and influential in almost all aspects of human life. This is in line with the use of the internet as a medium of communication and in line with the emergence of smartphones with various sophisticated features that are upgraded every day. As if by holding a smartphone all the needs of daily life can be fulfilled easily through online transactions. This has resulted in many young people who cannot be separated from their smartphones and some have even experienced nomophobia (fear if the smartphone is away from their grasp).

Based on a survey conducted by the Indonesian Internet Service Providers Association (APJII), the penetration rate of internet usage in Indonesia has reached 79.5% of the total population in Indonesia of more than 278 thousand people. Where the users are dominated by millennials at 30.62% and Gen Z at 34.40%. Digital platforms that are often widely used are social media, such as: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Tiktok. Meanwhile, based on a survey conducted by GWI in early 2024, it was found that the average Indonesian uses the internet for 7 hours 38 minutes a day and scrolling social media for 3 hours 11 minutes. The use of screen time that is almost half of the day has brought positive impacts, namely AI making daily life easy. However, the adverse impact is far greater, namely the emergence of the Brain Rot phenomenon.

Brain Rot

Brain rot literally means “brain rot”, but in modern psychology and popular neuroscience, the term is used to describe the decline in cognitive function, attention, and emotions due to the consumption of superficial and excessive digital content, especially from social media and short videos such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Reels (Newport, 2019). Doomscrolling can lead to neuroplastic atrophy, which is a decrease in neural connectivity and adaptive capacity of the brain due to lack of meaningful stimulation (Turner, 2023).

This also has an impact on the mental health of excessive social media users, namely: decreased focus and concentration, impaired emotion regulation, digital and dopamine addiction, decreased critical thinking skills, and risk of anxiety and depression. The effects are not only short-term, but also long-term. Biologically, overexposure to screens at night is known to disrupt sleep quality, and this sleep disruption is a mediating factor that exacerbates symptoms of anxiety and depression in adolescents (Lee et al., 2024). In addition, shallow and repetitive content consumption can activate the autonomic nervous system in a non-adaptive manner, trapping individuals in fight/flight or freeze mode, which can lead to mental fatigue and impaired emotion regulation (Porges, 2007).

Preventive Measures

Yousef et al (2025) in their research presented strategies that can be implemented to prevent Brain Rot. First, managing screen time, i.e. setting limits such as reducing daily screen time and removing distracting or useless apps. Second, curating media feeds, i.e. selectively choosing sources of information as it will be useful to protect their mental space to stay healthy and positive. Third, engaging in non-digital activities, such as: playing music, writing, adventuring outside the neighborhood, or doing other hobbies will provide a much-needed break from screens and also serve as stress relief for the mind and emotions. Finally, foster social support and engage in community activities, as engaging in positive social networks will help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Referring to the idea of AI first put forward by John McCarthy (1956), AI should have been created by humans to help humans to become fully functional persons, not to weaken human existence. Proper and wise use of AI will bring humans to digital prosperity.

By: Dr. Komarudin, M.Psi, Psychologist

Lecturer of Psychology Study Program. Psychology, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Yogyakarta