Top Causes of Brain Rot in Youths

Youths are the future backbone of our society. When their well-being is threatened, it becomes a global concern. One such concern is ‘brain rot’, a condition that causes cognitive and emotional stagnation in human beings, resulting from prolonged exposure to unproductive habits and unhealthy environments. There are lots of things that are responsible for causing brain rot in youngsters and the top ones are - 

1. Excessive Screen Time

In our digitalised world, the rise and revolution of smartphones, laptops and computers have made a huge contribution to our evolution. While these technologies have paved the way for better educational, professional and personal opportunities, excessive exposure to them is one of the most common causes of brain rot. Youths, especially, spend a lot of time on their phones and other digital devices. This excessive screen time hampers their ability to think anything critically. It also limits their attention span and affects their social skills. This is why it is said that modern humans have an attention span shorter than goldfish. 

2. Poor Physical Activity

Just as the digital world has made life more convenient, it has also made it less challenging. There is a continuous rise of online classes, streaming platforms, e-commerce delivery platforms and gaming industries. It has reduced the amount of physical activity in youths’ lives, affecting not only their body but also their brains. Lack of physical activity decreases blood flow to the brain and stunts mental stimulation, causing brain drain in these fresh people. 

3. Lack of Sleep

Excessive screen time and decreased physical activities cause sleep deprivation in a person. Modern youths are suffering heavily from this issue. Youngsters regularly sacrifice their sleep in favour of endless scrolling and texting. Academic pressure and online work schedules are also responsible. Less sleep disrupts both their physical and mental recovery. This, as a result, makes them more lethargic, emotionally incapable and incapable of processing information. If not looked at for long, this habit can backfire, ruining their academic and personal goals. 

4. Unhealthy Diet

Youngsters tend to get lured by fast foods, sugar products and soft drinks. While a little indulgence does not harm, a regular habit can be concerning. Continuous consumption of an unhealthy diet creates a barrier for the body to receive proper nutrients. Our brain needs brain-friendly foods like nuts, leafy vegetables, fatty fish, fruits and other nutriments in our daily diet. Lack of these foods leads to vitamin and other mineral deficiencies that can create brain fog, fatigue and imbalance in cognitive function in youths, causing overall brain rot. 

5. Information Avalanche

The revolution brought about by the gradual evolution of the internet has avalanched the world with information. Youths, today, have almost unrestricted access to any information. While this can be a blessing for them, it also drives them to engulf too much content at a time. This can easily overwhelm the brain and lead to brain fatigue, stress and decreased critical and creative abilities. For this reason, young people are developing issues like OCD, ADHD and others. 

6. Decreased Social Interaction

The temptation of the digital world has confined youths within their screens. It has slowly decreased their social interactions. Today, youngsters do not hang out with their friends anymore or take part in their family enjoyment. They prefer to do everything online. As a result, they lack basic social skills and fail to hold meaningful conversations in real life. This becomes a huge barrier to their mental maturity. Without exposure to outside experiences, the mind loses its potential for critical thinking, emotional response and decision-making, leading to brain rot. 

7. Negative Self-Talk 

Today’s information-loaded world, along with its hectic workloads, can create a claustrophobic atmosphere in the minds of youths. This stressful environment often leads them to frustration and negative self-talk. They tend to doubt, and excessively criticise themselves, thinking they are incapable of anything. Over time, this leads to higher concerns by manifesting into anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD and other issues. These conditions make it almost impossible for the brain to develop or function properly.

8. Substance Abuse

Substance use has been heavily commercialised in modern society. This has led to an increased intake of substances like cigarettes, alcohol, nicotine and other drugs in youths. This not only affects their memory and cognitive capabilities but also causes long-term brain issues in them, even to the extent of brain death. This is one of the leading causes of brain rot across the globe, especially in nations like the United States, India and South Africa. 

A Call to Action!

Brain rot has grown into a global concern today. But it is still not too late to counter it. We, adults, as the guardians of the next generations must guide them in the proper direction. It is our duty to educate them rightly, set boundaries and create a healthy environment for them. We must also keep in mind that fighting against brain rot is not about terminating all modern conveniences. It is about setting a healthy balance. We must set the right strategies to guide and nurture the youths in the right manner so that their brain can remain active and healthy.