It was in Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 book "Walden." But "the term has taken on new significance in the digital age," Oxford U

Oxford University Press said the phrase "brain rot" gained "new prominence in 2024," with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before.

Oxford University Press names "brain rot" as its 2024 word of the year in a nod to modern scrolling habits. "The term has taken on new significance in the digital age."