Name: Researchers warn about real risks of social media brain rot
Uploaded: 2025-12-06T03:03:15.954Z
Duration: 3 min 12 s
Description: New research suggests there are real health risks from heavy use of popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram.

New research suggests there are real health risks from heavy use of popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram.

New York

Recent research highlights concerns about the impact of heavy use of short-form social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, on mental health. A review of 14 studies found associations between excessive use and shorter attention spans, poor academic performance, and changes in brain structure related to behavioral control. 

Dr. Nidhi Gupta, a pediatric endocrinologist, emphasized that these effects are supported by scientific evidence and can affect not only young people but also adults and the elderly. She recommended practical steps for digital wellness, including limiting notifications, taking device-free breaks, deleting time-consuming apps, and embracing boredom to support focus and creativity.

Researchers warn about real risks of social media "brain rot"

It's no cap that popular social media apps like TikTok and Instagram real slap, but new research suggests doom scrolling on these short form platforms may actually be affecting our auras. Some of that internet slaying is referred to as brain rot. I am proud to say I only knew some of it. It was Oxford's word of the year in 2024. That being brain rot, it's defined as the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state. Our recent review of 14 studies says that heavy use of TikTok and similar platforms may be associated with the quote, shorter attention spans, poor academic performance and abnormal white matter in the brain linked to behavioral control. For more on this, let's bring in Dr. Nidhi Gupta. She's a pediatric endocrinologist and CEO of the Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes digital wellness. So it's not all in our heads. There is science backing this up. What should we know? We should be very concerned about the consumption of short form videos. The excessive consumption of this type of low quality digital media reduces our attention span, burdens our executive control and affects academic performance as well. Basically a sort of short video addiction might develop and then anything in the longer, deeper form might not seem engaging or appealing anymore. You know, it's so interesting because even I've noticed sometimes as I'm reading something, my brain will skip around and it's like my own attention span has also been impacted and I don't, I don't frequent short form as much as I know many others too. But what age group are we talking about here? Is this only adolescents? Is this adults too? Current brain rot research, Lindsay, has focused on young people. I wish we would pay a little bit more attention to the adults and elderly as well, especially the elderly. What we now know is that elderly over 60 years of age spend about five plus hours on screens every day doing scrolling. They might have more time on their hands, but they might not have the education to be safe online, which exposes them to scams and misinformation besides, of course, health consequences of excessive screen time. Think of what you could do with five hours, what new skill you could learn. So these apps clearly aren't going away. What's your advice for people? I suggest four basic foundational steps that are applicable for all ages. Number one, turn off non-essential notifications. All of those badges, the banners, the dings, the chimes, calm the noise. Number two, physically separate yourself from your devices for at least 60 or 90 minutes a day while you are awake. It's like cutting the cord. It's hard, but it's doable. Number three, delete your most time-consuming apps. For most of us, it might mean social media, gaming, shopping, and other streaming channel apps. And finally, let's embrace boredom. That's where focus thrives. Boredom is our brain's default mode. We've got to give it the opportunity to go into the default mode so it can reset. Where creativity thrives as well. Doctor, this was such good advice. Thank you so much.

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