On An Idle Brain
The state and the business tycoons have hegemonised people across the globe in the 21st Century. Hence, the human brains have gradually become rotten. Interestingly, the Oxford University Press recently recognised this fact and named Brain Rot as its 2024 Word of the Year. The Oxford University Press has also defined Brain Rot as the supposed deterioration of mental or intellectual state of a person, especially as a result of consuming too much trivial, as well as unchallenging, online contents. In other words, idle brains have become rotten in the contemporary world mainly because of technological development and state policies.
An invisible power has started controlling immature brains of children (and also some adults) as online contents affect these brains quite easily. The majority of online content is cheap, fascinating and ephemeral. Although a section of people has rightly realised the danger of such contents, it has become increasingly difficult to find a way out of this.
In fact, the concept of Brain Rot is an old one as laziness started affecting human brains a long ago. Dr Suhrita Saha, the Head of Sociology Department of Kolkata-based Presidency University in India, has stressed: “We often believe in the Declined Theory… Everything was fine in the past and it has become worse now. This denial is not acceptable.” She added: “One should admit that we are now accustomed to so many things and it becomes impossible for us to turn back. The Internet is one of them. Along with the benefits, one has to face the side effects.” According to Dr Saha, teachers often do not give opportunities to students to develop their own thought process! “Brain rot was always there, but in different forms. People have become increasingly idle (or lazy) as technology has started controlling human lives. With all the needs of a person being met with One Time Password, there is no need to think,” she stressed.
A lazy mind (or idle brain) always seeks instant pleasure. Kolkata-based Psychiatrist Dr Rima Mukherjee has stated: “Online contents prevent our brains from thinking deeply. The instant pleasure of online shopping or easy access to one’s favourite food or clothing via an app(lication) is terrifying. The next day it may seem that I did not need that dress, but I purchased it because I just wanted to buy it.” She added: “If someone learns cooking or practices guitar chords or learns to knit from YouTube, then the person can no longer be relegated to the stage of brain rot.” According to Dr Mukherjee, the type of content is quite important.
Online contents have the greatest impact on children who are at the developmental stage and also on adolescent minds. In the post-COVID-19 era, children got easy access to cell phones mainly for attending online classes. Some children who get stuck in that gadget have failed to develop basic social skills. If a child gets a cell phone at an age when s/he should learn to talk and play with other kids, then s/he would like to stay in the house. Lack of communication and language acquisition skills would certainly affect their studies. Such children could not concentrate while doing something and could not develop the power of imagination. Dr Mukherjee has explained: “In online games, a child controls her/his own wins and losses most of the time. Hence, they have no idea about losing in the playground or the fun of playing in a team.“
Although some parents advise their kids not to spend time with cell phones, they often watch reels, series or movies on their phones in their spare time. Sociologists and Psychiatrists are of the opinion that the advice of these parents does not work. According to them, children should be given something as an alternative to cell phones that would attract them. It is the responsibility of the parents to increase the outdoor activities of their children. Allowing children to play with cell phones or to watch television may be an easy option for busy parents, but it is not at all good for the children. It is not the duty of parents to keep entertaining their children all the time. However, parents should allow their children’s inquisitive minds to develop on their own.
Parents, too, need to look after themselves. In fact, it is doubly difficult for adults to overcome cell phone addiction. Dr Saha has stressed: “We swallow the social media feeds. We see whatever somebody wants us to see. Indeed, everything can be created now.” She added: “We no longer fight with others as we are not interested in conversation. We have also lost the patience to argue with others. Instead, a sort of indifference has started influencing us. Therefore, the majority is suffering from loneliness and depression.”
According to Dr Mukherjee, many seek her help to overcome excessive cell phone addiction and she tries to find the root cause first. The psychiatrist has stated: “The cause of addiction is not the same for everyone. For some, it is an escape route as they choose this easy way out because they do not want to face the harsh reality. For others, social media chats help get rid of loneliness. People who lack concentration often waste time on trivial things. It is crucial to guide them accordingly after reviewing their problems.”
Meanwhile, Brain Rot is not always bad. Dr Saha has stressed: “Technology plays an important role in society. However, a person, who is not tech-savvy, should not be considered unsmart. The word smartphone indicates such a mentality. One must learn to take advantage of modern technology, and to discard the rest. We have to develop such habits.“
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot protect people from cell phone addiction, one has to control her/his own mind and behaviour. Else, an invisible enemy shall control human minds. No word, like Brain Rot, should enjoy the Word of the Year status in the future.
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Boundless Ocean Of Politics 