Many of us are guilty of it—mindlessly binge-scrolling through internet content. But could that be damaging our brains?
Oxford’s word of the year for 2024 is “brain rot,” which refers to the feeling you get after spending long hours aimlessly scrolling through internet content.
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“It’s a real thing, and it’s concerning for a lot of people,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent.
Medical experts say consuming long stretches of low-quality content online can trigger cognitive decline and brain fog and shorten our attention span. But overindulging in internet content can cause even more severe symptoms like depression in teens.
“Nore than three hours for teens seemed to double their risk for depression,” Gupta explained.
So how does excessive binge-watching impact our brains?
“It tends to thin certain areas of the brain called the cortex that is responsible for your memory and your perception,” Gupta said.
So what can we do to prevent “brain rot”?
Limiting screen time can help.
The most recent survey from the PEW research center asked a group of teens 13-17 about their tech usage.
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95% say they have access to a smartphone
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46% say they use the internet “almost constantly.”
But it’s not just a teen problem.
A different PEW survey found that 90% of adults say they use the web daily, and 41% say they are online “almost constantly.”
Medical experts say it’s important to keep track of how much time you spend online to prevent binge-watching.