Understanding Children's World: Embracing the Age of 'Mental Decay'
There's quite a mix of young folks out there this week. Some are succumbing to the so-called "brain rot," spending an excessive amount of time online and ceasing to communicate with others in the process. Others are falling for antiquated online schemes. But on a positive note, some youngsters are creating magnificent music, while even tiny infants are assisting their families in acquiring free vacations at pricey resorts by simply being adorable.
What is "Brain Rot?"
"Brain rot" is a new slang term that's gaining popularity among the youth. It denotes the process of being mentally decreased by spending too much time on the internet - getting so engrossed in internet slang, memes, and catchphrases that you lose touch with reality. It's similar to being "chronically online," but with a twist - it refers specifically to the act of being able to communicate so poorly with others due to this excessive exposure to online content. It's typically used to criticize someone for being so immersed in their own bubble that they're completely oblivious to the eccentricities of their behavior.
This seemingly straightforward concept takes on a deeper, more abstract meaning when you consider that there are memes and internet sensations created with the intention of being meaningless. For instance, the meme featuring a picture of Donald Trump labelled "N*ggas call me ‘The Sandwich'" alongside a clip of Bryan Cranston in a barbershop quartet dancing on Saturday Night Live while a sad guitar soundtrack plays in the background. It's reminiscent of contemporary art from the '90s: it shares a familiar form and may superficially seem to convey a message, but in reality, it's designed to mean nothing. The interpretation depends solely on the viewer.
The comments underneath this meme are brimming with internet-specific slang like "Sigma!", "I munted to this," and "Honey, I mogged the kids." It's suspected that the comments are mocking those affected by "brain rot," but engaging with that nonsense implies an even deeper level of "brain rot." It's like a joke where few understand the punchline, and those who do end up the target of the joke.
TikTok Users' Fruitless Mission to Pay Off Each Other's Debts
A fad is taking off on TikTok, wherein creators are attempting to help each other pay their debts through clicks, likes, and comments. TikTok's content rewards system supposedly pays account holders around $1 per 10,000 views. As a result, TikTok users are posting videos featuring their debt amounts and reasons with the hashtag "#PayingOffEachOther'sDebts." There are almost 16 million posts associated with this hashtag alone. However, it's highly unlikely that any of these TikTokers will have their debts resolved by any means.
This isn't a new concept. People have always attempted to amass an online following with the hope of eventually monetizing their content. "Follow me, and I'll follow you" or "follow train" schemes abound on various platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Tutorials on "how to get above 10,000 followers" have been circulating online for years. Yet, these attempted schemes have never succeeded.
Despite their intention to help each other financially, TikTokers risk their accounts being penalized. If your primary goal is to amass as many followers as possible, you're effectively telling TikTok that your content isn't worth engaging with. It's highly likely that their algorithm has adjusted to downweight or even penalize any videos that blatantly encourage users to follow them. Additionally, the earliest participants in this "scheme" have a better chance of seeing some form of payback.
If this reminds you of pyramid schemes, it's no coincidence. The tone with which the earlier participants gush about the prospect of saving their homes or helping others in a vague manner with "if I can reach X amount of views," it's like a textbook instance of a pyramid scheme. In the end, those who join late will be the ones left in despair as they learn there are no "get-rich-quick" schemes; only "get-not-rich-slowly" schemes.
Babies Helping Families Secure Free Vacations
In stark contrast to the struggles faced by TikTok users, there are cases of infants providing assistance to their families. These little ones are simply being adorable, making the family's social media posts go viral, and garnering free trips to expensive resorts as a reward. These children, completely devoid of the detrimental effects of excessive online exposure, show us just how fruitful the internet can be when used responsibly.
The young artists from the Kabin Crew and Lisdoonvarna Crew possess a special kind of charisma that doesn't require them to plead for followers or views. These Irish talents between the ages of 9 and 14 have recently dropped "The Spark," an exuberant drum-and-bass song that's escalating in popularity across X, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, among other platforms. Their digital single was brought to life by Rhyme Island, a youth rap initiative that seeks to champion Cruinniú na nÓg, Europe's annual celebration of creative pursuits for the young. While you could elect to disregard their music under the assumption that it's only gained traction because it's for a good cause, it's genuinely a solid tune. Some might even find it catchy enough to elicit head-bobbing movements and temporary moments of joy. Those distinct accents, too, have a magnetic quality to them.
Unforgettable Memes: Fully Aware Baby
Our first viral baby was Dancing Baby, an overlapping CGI sensation from 1996 that predated the term "meme." The latest viral infant is "Fully Aware Baby," the star of a curious eight-second TikTok clip. The tape finds the baby's aunt, TikToker Stefanie O’Brien, posing a query: "Who wants to go to the Four Seasons Orlando?" The young girl, appropriately dubbed Fully Aware Baby, appears to mull over the proposition before pitching herself with a tiny hand raised and a seemingly too-mature "me!" This seemingly innocuous video has reeled in tens of millions of views, provoked a cascade of reaction footage where various Internet denizens speculate about the youngster's internal monologue, and captivated people the world over. If that wasn't impressive enough, the Four Seasons Orlando ultimately blessed the family with a trip to their resort. It seems like everybody ended up having a memorable experience.
Read also:
The concept of "brain rot" is often used to criticize individuals who spend an excessive amount of time online, losing touch with reality and communicating poorly with others due to their immersion in internet culture. (Entertainment, what is brain rot)
Despite the success of some young TikTokers in securing free vacations for their families through viral content, the fad of TikTok users attempting to pay each other's debts is highly unlikely to succeed. (What is brain rot)
