‘Brain rot’ is real: scrolling on a smartphone shrinks your brain
Heavy use of social and digital media may have a greater impact on the brain than previously thought.
Several recent studies suggest that excessive viewing of short videos in particular contributes to problems. At the center of the discussion is the buzzword “brain rot” – a colloquial term describing the feared brain “deterioration” caused by constant exposure to the internet.
Various studies have been conducted
What may seem like a joke at first glance, experts say, has serious implications, as reported by the Washington Post. US author Catherine Price, known for her book “How to Break Up with Your Phone,” recounts numerous stories of people struggling to concentrate for long periods of time or finish reading a book. She argues that smartphones exacerbate people’s already-existing sensibility to distraction.
A recent meta-analysis that evaluated a large number of scientific publications concluded that frequent consumption of short-form video content, such as on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, is associated with poorer cognitive performance and increased anxiety symptoms. Constant interruptions by messages or rapid topic changes divide attention, the researchers say. As a result, many find longer content tiring.
Of particular note was a long-term study of more than 7,000 children published in the journal Translational Psychiatry in 2025. The study found that more screen time was associated with a thinner cerebral cortex, an area crucial for decision-making, memory, and impulse control.
The biggest problem is social media
In addition, those who spend a lot of time in front of screens were more likely to show symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, experts emphasize that these are correlations and there is no clear evidence of cause and effect. Lack of sleep also plays a role: many teenagers spend their time in front of screens until late. Too little sleep can harm the development of white matter in the brain, which is crucial for efficient signal transmission.
However, not all screen time has the same effects. One study found that avoiding social media while allowing unlimited cell phone use reduced the negative effects. So the type of screen time seems to be more important than the duration.
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