{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,30]],"date-time":"2026-10-30T19:30:51Z","timestamp":1793388651134,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,7]],"date-time":"2025-03-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741305600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: The widespread phenomenon of \u201cbrain rot\u201d, named the Oxford Word of the Year 2024, refers to the cognitive decline and mental exhaustion experienced by individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, due to excessive exposure to low-quality online materials, especially on social media. The present study is exploratory and interpretative in nature, aiming to investigate the phenomenon of \u201cbrain rot\u201d, with a focus on its key pillars, psychological factors, digital behaviors, and the cognitive impact resulting from the overconsumption of low-quality digital content. Methods: This study employs a rapid review approach, examining research published between 2023 and 2024 across PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. It explores the causes and effects of brain rot, focusing on the overuse of social media, video games, and other digital platforms. Results: The findings reveal that brain rot leads to emotional desensitization, cognitive overload, and a negative self-concept. It is associated with negative behaviors, such as doomscrolling, zombie scrolling, and social media addiction, all linked to psychological distress, anxiety, and depression. These factors impair executive functioning skills, including memory, planning, and decision-making. The pervasive nature of digital media, driven by dopamine-driven feedback loops, exacerbates these effects. Conclusions: The study concludes by offering strategies to prevent brain rot, such as controlling screen time, curating digital content, and engaging in non-digital activities. Given the increasing prevalence of digital engagement, it is essential to explore a variety of strategies, including mindful technology use, to support cognitive health and emotional well-being. The results can guide various stakeholders\u2014policymakers, practitioners, researchers, educators, and parents or caregivers\u2014in addressing the pervasive impact of brain rot and promoting a balanced approach to technology use that fosters cognitive resilience among adolescents and young adults.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci15030283","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,7]],"date-time":"2025-03-07T04:29:59Z","timestamp":1741321799000},"page":"283","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":76,"title":["Demystifying the New Dilemma of Brain Rot in the Digital Era: A Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0522-0734","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmed Mohamed Fahmy","family":"Yousef","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Instructional and Learning Technology, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman"},{"name":"Educational Technology Department, Faculty of Specific Education, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2617-0863","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alsaeed","family":"Alshamy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Educational Foundations and Administration, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman"},{"name":"Faculty of Education, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1449-7751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmed","family":"Tlili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Smart Learning Institute, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9545-5870","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmed Hosny Saleh","family":"Metwally","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Educational Technology Department, Faculty of Education, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Oxford University Press (2024, December 09). 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