Is 'Brain Rot' Real? How Too Much Time Online Can Affect Your Mind.

Source: Slashdot

Introduction

Can being “very online” really affect our brains, asks the Washington Post?

Research Findings

Research suggests that scrolling through short videos on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts is affecting our attention, memory, and mental health. A recent meta‑analysis of the scientific literature found that increased use of short‑form video was linked with poorer cognition and increased anxiety.

2025 Longitudinal Study

In a 2025 study published in Translational Psychiatry (PubMed link), researchers examined longitudinal data from more than 7,000 children across the United States. Key findings include:

• Greater screen use was associated with reduced cortical thickness in specific brain regions.
• The cortex—responsible for higher‑level thinking, memory, and decision‑making—shows thinning that may impair inhibitory control and increase impulsivity.
• Reduced cortical thickness was linked to higher rates of attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms.

“We really need it for things like inhibitory control or not being so impulsive,” said Mitch Prinstein, senior science adviser to the American Psychological Association and professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (not involved in the study).
“Those seem to be the areas being affected by the reduced cortical thickness,” he added, noting that impulsivity can drive dopamine‑seeking behavior on social media.

Screen Time Nuances

Not all screen time is created equal. A recent study removed social‑media apps from children’s devices while allowing unrestricted phone use for other activities. The result: kids spent the same amount of time on their phones but did not exhibit the same harmful effects.

“It’s what you’re doing on the screen that matters,” Prinstein emphasized.