The term ‘brainrot’ has circulated on the Internet for approximately a year and the content associated with it is frequently conusing and appears to be both inherently pointless and meaningless. Originating in online slang culture, brainrot refers to content of a specifically low quality. Content of this nature is predominately shared on social media platforms as short-form videos Viewing this content is rumoured to have negative cognitive effects such as a significant reduction to an individual’s attention span, however evidence to support these claims is not presently available. Unlike previous meme iterations, brainrot has developed beyond the initially presented format and has developed a cultural lexicon.
Brainrot is typically associated with Generation Alpha and a recent survey of this group has highlighted that 92% of individuals have access to social media. This survey has further evidenced that Generation Alpha typically elects to consume social media content as short-form videos. Jokingly referred to as ‘Generation Skibidi’, Anna North has recently argued in an article for Vox that young adults may view this pointless and inherent nature of brainrot content as a parody of society’s stereotypical views of their generation. If everyone thinks you’re always online absorbing mindless content – then why not laugh at it?
Unlike more ‘traditional’ memes which are largely text or video based, brainrot can be found in a plethora of interchangeable formats. For example, Skibidi Toilet’ – a series of Youtube videos and shorts depicting conflict between humanoid toilets (see Figure 1) and humanoid cameras (see Figure 2) – is popular both for the humorous and meaningless nature of the content itself and for the use of the term skibidi.
Figure 1 – Skibidi Toilet
Figure 2
As one might expect, Skibidi does not have a readily definable meaning and is used almost at free will:“He’s so skibidi” or “On skibidi”.
‘ A further lexicon has developed around the brainrot phenomena. ‘Rizz’ – a shortened version of charisma – is a further slang term associated with the brainrot phenomena. Unlike skibidi, rizz can be defined as a charm or attractiveness that allows one to attract a romantic partner. Rizz can be used either as a verb or a noun and was initially popularised en masse by the YouTuber Kai Cenat, Highly charismatic people may be referred to as ‘Rizzlers’ and names have been modified to reflect highly charismatic celebrities: Walt Rizzney. In a reflection of the terms meteoric rise, rizz was named Oxford University Press’ ‘Word of the Year’.
Cenat further shifted the definition of the term ‘gyatt’ Previously, the term had been a colloquium for ‘god damn’, however Cenat re-imagined the term to refer to a highly attractive woman. Gyatt is prevalent on social media, but has seen limited further use verbally.
Usage flows freely and the meaning is intrinsic for those ‘in the know’. A lexicon for a wholly new era of the Internet
Attempts have been made to localise the lexicon of brainrot into the mainstream, usually, to much revulsion. In a September 2024 speech, Australian Senator Fatima Payman referred to the government as ‘yapaholics’ meaning that they possess a tendency to speak too much with little. Payman further noted:
“Though some of you cannot yet vote, I hope that, when you do, it will be in a more goated Australia for a government with more aura. Skibidi!”
Payman’s speech was labelled – in an inverse turn of events – as brainrotten and it was subsequently revealed that speech was written by a 21 year-old staff writer.
Those of a similar age to myself may recall ‘MLG Videos’. These videos were gaming clips laced with loud siren noises, bright lights and snapshots of various pieces of popular culture. As the video below illustrates, these are, by nature, inherently pointless, and could only be considered funny by a limited group. Memes and associated formats tend to be recurring and the culture associated with brainrot appears as an extension of this trend. However, unlike previous meme trends, a separate lexicon with meaning only understood by those involved has arisen.
Or is writing about brainrot ‘brainrotten’? Who knows? Not me, for certain.
Referenced Articles
Generation Skibidi? iPad kids don’t mind the brainrot | Vox
Parents and Gen Alpha kids are having unintelligible convos because of ‘brainrot’ language
What does rizz mean, and do you have it? The Gen Z term storming TikTok
Rizz named word of the year 2023 by Oxford University Press – BBC News
Fatima Payman’s Gen Z Slang Speech Declared ‘Brainrot’
Videos
THE ONLY DEFINITION OF #GYATT 😒 #gyat #gyatttttttt
Harry Potter and the Noscoper’s Stone
Figures
Figure 1 – By Alexey Gerasimov (DaFuqBoom) – <a rel=”nofollow” class=”external free” href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WePNs-G7puA”>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WePNs-G7puA</a>, <a href=”//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Skibidi_toilet_screenshot.webp” title=”Fair use of copyrighted material in the context of Skibidi Toilet”>Fair use</a>, <a href=”https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74562768“>Link</a>
After the eerie: reflections on Year Omega 