In 2024, the phenomenon known as “brain rot” spiked in popularity, and it’s high time it faded away. Everywhere you went—be it at school or the grocery store—you’d hear terms like “alpha” and “sigma.” Initially amusing, their constant use quickly became tiresome.
The brain rot trend stemmed from the wave of memes circulating on social media platforms, particularly TikTok. Its impact was so significant that it earned the title of Oxford Word of the Year.
Hearing phrases like “I’m so sigma” or “I’m the alpha” at school has become downright irritating. Often, these phrases are used in the most absurd contexts, leaving many people baffled.
Another aspect of brain rot that emerged in 2024 involved students interrupting class to partake in what they thought were humorous trends. Students would softly say “Baka,” gradually increasing their volume until they were standing on their chairs or tables. While it can be amusing to witness, it’s a trend that could easily be left behind in 2024.
As the year came to a close, the Grinch—an iconic Christmas character—was reimagined as a meme. A photo of the Grinch’s infamous grin was altered to blue and captioned, “That feeling when knee surgery is tomorrow.” This meme stands out as one of the most peculiar, lacking any context beyond its randomness.
The phrase “fanum tax” also gained traction, referring to an odd scenario where people would take food from others without reason and without explanation.
In an unexpected twist, Ohio became a symbol of brain rot. Given the array of bizarre events reported in the state, any unusual occurrence would elicit a response like “only in Ohio.” While it might seem fitting, creating a whole meme out of it is admittedly a bit excessive.
Amidst the flood of brain rot terminology, people began crafting “brain rot exams” or “brain rot quizzes,” presenting popular terms and inviting others to guess in the comments. Scoring well supposedly allowed participants to “graduate from Rizz University.”
As if quizzes weren’t enough, some individuals started making brain rot covers of popular songs. They would take hits like “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus or “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s and alter the lyrics with over-the-top brain rot terms, effectively diminishing the joy these songs once brought.
Ultimately, brain rot is utterly pointless, serving no real purpose and only managing to annoy people. In summary, let’s leave brain rot firmly in 2024, where it belongs.
