Limitless “Scrolling” and Your Brain Will get Drained

Louise (47) truly is aware of what she must be doing. However, her thumb retains scrolling by means of the telephone display, engrossed in Instagram or Threads posts. She even neglects her schedule for meals, bathing, and tidying up the home.

This “illness” started to be felt by Louise, not her actual identify, within the final two to a few years, particularly on weekends, when there are not any urgent obligations.

A psychology graduate and elementary college instructor for 20 years, she realized she was experiencing mind rot, a decline in cognitive operate. She would scroll aimlessly on social media for hours. She would go to mattress later and get up later.

Weakened cognition

Louise’s expertise displays the true impression of speedy and superficial digital content material consumption. This phenomenon is turning into more and more widespread, particularly among the many youthful technology, according to the dominance of social media algorithms.

Kompas each day interviewed a panel of 17 interdisciplinary specialists to discover the mind rot phenomenon from varied views. They come from backgrounds in psychiatry, psychology, schooling, sociology, anthropology, communication science, and philosophy, in addition to social media practitioners and observers, algorithm specialists, and content material creators.

From interviews performed in mid-April 2025, 81.8 % of specialists agreed that mind rot is a well-liked time period that describes a decline in cognitive operate because of extreme consumption of quick, quick, and shallow digital content material.

The publicity to speedy content material triggers extreme secretion of dopamine or the pleasure-inducing substance within the mind, which may result in habit. The impacts embody disturbances in focus, reminiscence, problem-solving skills, and self-control.

“There is hypoactivation of the brain that causes a decline in brain function or dysfunction due to excessive internet use, such as social media,” stated Kristiana Siste Kurniasanti, a neuroscience skilled from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Wednesday (16/4/2025).

Most specialists additionally agree that trivial and shallow content material discourages customers from considering deeply. “It’s not just the duration, but also the type of content. Consuming this kind of content can harm our way of thinking. The formal term is intellectual deficiency,” stated Jati Ariati, a psychologist and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at Diponegoro University.

A Kompas Research and Development ballot performed on April 21–24, 2025, of 510 respondents confirmed that 13.6 % of residents admitted to experiencing psychological problems because of extreme gadget use, resembling problem concentrating, sleep problems, and stress.

As a lot as 5.17 % are reluctant to socialize. A complete of 39.6 % expertise bodily disturbances, resembling consuming patterns, imaginative and prescient, and a sedentary life-style.

“There is hypoactivation of the brain that causes a decline in brain function or dysfunction due to excessive internet use, such as social media,” stated Kristiana Siste Kurniasanti, a neuroscience skilled from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

Cheap content material, critical impression

Before turning into the Oxford Word of the Year 2024, the phrase mind rot was utilized by Generation Z and Generation Alpha to seek advice from joke content material such because the video @Skibidi Toilet” or immediate memes made by imitation minds, for instance ”Tralalero Tralala” or ”Tung Tung Tung Sahur”.

According to Oxford University Press, writer of the Oxford Dictionary, the time period now refers back to the destructive impacts of extreme social media consumption, particularly on youngsters and youngsters.

As many as 84 % of specialists additionally establish Generation Z and Generation Alpha as essentially the most affected teams. The impression is extra extreme on the decrease center financial class because of low digital literacy and restricted leisure options exterior of social media.

Meanwhile, a Kompas Research and Development ballot confirmed that Generation Z skilled essentially the most psychological problems because of devices (25.5 %).

“The most vulnerable are the young generation from the lower middle class,” stated Firman Kurniawan, a digital tradition skilled from the University of Indonesia.

Combination of psychic, content material, and algorithm

Experts consider that mind rot is triggered by three major components: digital literacy and parenting patterns, consumption patterns and the general public’s psyche, and the function of algorithms and extreme content material.

Many dad and mom are entrusting child-rearing to devices. Consumption patterns and an immediate tradition have made the digital world an escape from stress and loneliness. Meanwhile, algorithms are designed to seize consideration by means of quick content material that triggers dopamine.

“They want us to stay on the platform for as long as possible. Moreover, now that it is AI-based, it is becoming increasingly adept at reading our behavior. I do not see their good intentions, unless there are financial or legal consequences,” stated Ika Karlina Idris, a digital media skilled from Monash University Indonesia.

Internal TikTok paperwork obtained by The New York Times present their algorithm is designed to optimize retention. Leaked inside Meta paperwork point out that Meta is conscious of Instagram’s destructive impression on psychological well being.

“They want us to stay on the platform for as long as possible. Especially now that it is AI-based, it is becoming increasingly adept at reading our behavior. I do not see their good intentions, unless there are financial or legal consequences,” stated Ika Karlina Idris, a digital media skilled from Monash University Indonesia.

An evaluation by the Kompas Daily Data Journalism Team and the Kompas Research and Development Media Monitoring Team of 4,428 posts on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook from March 1 to April 30, 2025, confirmed that 76.22 % talked about phrases associated to mind rot, resembling broken mind or mind decay. An extra 10.73 % mentioned cognitive decline.

“I’m worried about myself. I’m afraid I’m starting to get brain rot. I don’t know what the symptoms are (because I haven’t looked into it yet). But I feel like I’m consuming a lot of reels,” one of many accounts X posted.

Overstimulation

Psychiatrist from Dr H Marzoeki Mahdi Mental Hospital, Bogor, Lahargo Kembaren, stated that overstimulation of digital content material can set off cognitive fatigue, even cognitive decline.

If left unchecked, the mind loses the power to tell apart between true data and may simply fall sufferer to hoaxes. The fixed inflow of recent data disrupts focus and cognitive capability.

“The brain becomes overwhelmed. Before it can focus, the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotions, reacts first. Ultimately, feelings take over, not the rational part of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex,” stated Lahargo.

This situation is called cognitive fatigue. Its results could be widespread, starting from decreased work efficiency, decreased tutorial efficiency, and even job loss.

Sorting energy is misplaced

A complete of 94.12 % of specialists agree that mind rot weakens the power to kind data, together with distinguishing info from hoaxes. Diponegoro University media sociologist Nurul Hasfi believes mind rot is triggered by the widespread consumption of quick, context-deprived content material. As a end result, the general public is definitely provoked, jumps to conclusions, and struggles to assume critically.

Nurul stated that combating mind rot requires collaboration: customers have to be selective, creators have to be moral, and the media should keep its beliefs. The authorities should additionally strengthen oversight.

“Clickbait is an early form of brain rot. Unfortunately, it is still being fostered by some media outlets,” he stated.

This crucial view aligns with specialists’ assessments of the intense impression of mind rot on the nation’s future. Eighty-eight % of specialists said that mind rot is a critical menace to the standard of future generations. This conclusion confirms that mind rot is an pressing menace.

For a greater digital area

The Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, emphasised that the federal government is conscious of the hazards of shallow digital content material, particularly among the many youthful technology. According to her, the social media trade must be regulated extra strictly.

“This platform is not just a space for expression, but also a space that treats us as industrial objects,” he advised Kompas, Monday (June 16, 2025).

The authorities has issued Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 in regards to the Management of Electronic System Implementation in Child Protection (PP Tunas), which regulates the minimal age, options for youngsters and adolescents, in addition to the supervision of platforms.

Derivative laws are being drafted in order that youngsters’s accounts could be set in restricted mode and have age limits. Profiling of kids’s accounts is prohibited to make the algorithm extra accountable by means of age restrictions and content material classification.

Accompanying youngsters

Efforts to guard youngsters had been additionally emphasised by Bukik Setiawan, Chairman of the Guru Belajar Foundation. He assessed that laws are nonetheless lax and haven’t been capable of confront the dominance of know-how giants.

“Regulation is necessary because capital tends to be liberal. The commodities are views and advertising. The more users, the greater the profits. Regulation is essential,” Bukik stated.

Several nations have taken motion. India, for example, has established an Online Gaming Authority since 2025 that prohibits youngsters underneath 18 from taking part in money-based video games. A digital curfew has additionally been applied in that nation. South Korea and China have additionally restricted gaming hours.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia are tightening age verification for customers. France, Denmark, and Malaysia have banned using cell phones in faculties. The Digital Services Act, which mandates algorithm transparency and psychological well being safety, is being applied within the European Union.

In Poland, cell phones are prohibited from being utilized in class until permitted by the instructor. “At school, students are taught media literacy to sift through information, think critically about social media, and even discuss algorithms and their impact on public perception and opinion,” stated Fitria Anlis Kurly (33), a instructor who taught at 4 faculties in Poland from 2021 to 2023.

The function of oldsters and group

Awareness of the significance of mentoring remains to be low. Bukik means that the federal government help faculties in formulating know-how insurance policies, assist dad and mom, and strengthen college students’ digital literacy. According to him, the principle situation lies not within the gadgets, however within the studying course of, which is much less partaking in comparison with social media.

One native initiative is Kampung Lali Gadget in Sidoarjo, East Java. One of its founders, Achmad Irfandi (32), skilled the destructive impacts of mind rot firsthand.

He’s combating in opposition to display habit. He believes stopping digital habit should begin with dad and mom. “If you want your children to avoid addiction, parents must be more engaged with gadgets,” he stated in mid-April 2025.

Lali Gadget Village offers many selections of actions which are extra enjoyable than devices. He stated that youngsters don’t must be hostile to know-how.

Digital detox and wholesome actions

Providing different actions is taken into account essential to counteracting publicity to damaging digital content material. Writer and content material creator Okki Sutanto exemplifies how inexperienced public areas and libraries, resembling these in Singapore, will help curb mind rot.

Okki implements three methods, specifically eliminating addictive functions, limiting entry, and consciously choosing content material. He additionally repeatedly undergoes digital detox.

“Even Bill Gates has a think week, a week without gadgets and meetings, just for writing and reading,” he added.

Okki emphasised the significance of setting an instance. “If officials are busy creating content and competing on social media, how can the public learn to use it wisely?” he stated.

Lahargo Kembaren added that digital detox is step one in addressing cognitive fatigue. It can take varied kinds: disabling notifications, distancing oneself from gadgets, or taking a break from accessing social media.

However, detox alone will not be sufficient. Since social media will increase dopamine, the mind wants a substitute to keep away from feeling “withdrawn.” It is recommended to interact in gardening, cooking, studying, or different actions.

“The point is not just to quit social media, but to build healthy and sustainable alternatives,” he concluded.