In shortReaders who land here meaning Doomscrolling rather than Brainrot are usually searching for phrases like “I can't stop reading bad news even though it makes me feel worse”, “scrolling for hours looking for something that will finally make me feel okay”, “trapped in the feed at 2am unable to put my phone down”.
Doomscrolling
“I can't stop reading bad news even though it makes me feel worse”
“scrolling for hours looking for something that will finally make me feel okay”
“trapped in the feed at 2am unable to put my phone down”
“refreshing for updates on something scary and never feeling reassured”
Brainrot
“what is brainrot”
“is brain rot real”
“brainrot meaning”
“who said brain rot first”
03
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortBrainrot. 1854 — Henry David Thoreau records 'brain-rot' in Walden, attacking intellectual complacency — the earliest known use.
1854
Brainrot. Henry David Thoreau records 'brain-rot' in Walden, attacking intellectual complacency — the earliest known use.
c. 2018
Doomscrolling. The word begins circulating online.