The following is excerpted from an online article posted on StudyFinds
“Brainrot” is what many people call the chaotic, fast-moving memes, sounds and catchphrases that spread across TikTok, Roblox and online gaming and into playgrounds. An example is the endlessly repeated chant of “six-seven,” which still echoes through houses and schools across the country – to the bewilderment (or annoyance) of many teachers and parents.
But if you’ve ever said “I’ll be back” in a mock-Arnie voice or asked “you talkin’ to me?,” you’ve already engaged in a form of brainrot. The instinct to repeat and remix lines from the culture around us is nothing new.
What has changed is the source material. For young people growing up in a digital world, quotable moments don’t come from films or TV but from TikTok edits, Roblox streams, speedrun memes, Minecraft mods (modifications) and the fast-paced humor of online gaming.
Although brainrot is often used knowingly and with a touch of irony to describe these phrases, remixing and repeating fragments of media has always been part of how people connect. It creates a shared cultural code, a second language made of references, rhythms and sounds that bind groups together and turn everyday moments into opportunities for humor and social connection. In many ways, this style of communication offers lightness and playfulness in a world that can often feel slow and muted by comparison.
Brainrot isn’t evidence that young people are disengaged or unimaginative. It’s a reflection of how they make sense of a digital world that is fast, fragmented and overflowing with ideas.
Source: StudyFinds
https://studyfinds.org/what-is-online-brainrot/