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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Harry Taylor

‘Brain rot’: Oxford word of the year 2024 reflects ‘trivial’ use of social media

Man looking at his phone.
Brain rot is defined as supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of trivial online content. Photograph: Stefano Cavoretto/Alamy

“Brain rot” has been announced as the Oxford word of the year for 2024, amid concerns over endless social media scrolling and mind-numbing content.

More than 37,000 people voted to help choose the winner from a shortlist of six words drawn up by Oxford University Press, the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary.

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