At Roosevelt High, ‘brainrot’ is spreading more and more everyday. Some of the strangest conversations are going on thanks to the internet’s powerful grip on our students. If you feel like you’re hearing a completely new language, don’t worry–it’s just brainrot, a term associated with being chronically online. But what exactly does that mean?

The Calm Blog on Brainrot says is perfectly, “Brainrot is a term used describe cognitive and emotional decline associated with excessive internet and social media usage… This phenomenon involves a constant consumption of short, fast-paced content that can overwhelm the brain, leading to decreased attention spans, mental exhaustion, and a reduced ability to engage with deeper, more meaningful activities.”

     Being chronically online refers to when an individual spends so much time on the internet that their view of the world becomes heavily influenced by online culture. It leads to language and behaviors that make sense online, leaking into everyday conversations. At Roosevelt, this is everywhere, with students using terms like “skibidi toilet,” “rizz,” and “sigma” in their daily conversations like it’s second nature.

     Imagine walking through the hallways and overhearing a group discussing the absurdity of the Skibidi Toilet meme, which blew up on TikTok over an odd animation of a man’s head sticking out of a toilet singing “Skibidi.” Instead of being confused, students laugh along because being online all the time teaches you to thrive on nonsense. When they aren’t talking about disturbing toilet animations, they’re probably trying to perfect their mewing technique by pressing their tongue against the roof of their mouth in hope of developing a sharper jawline because they now believe it’s a legit beauty hack.

    In this digital environment, everyone’s chasing something–like the whole sigma and alpha talk. The alpha is the leader of the pack. This idea of being so cool that you don’t need anyone else, gets a lot of love from the chronically online. That’s why you’ll hear classmates low-key flexing their inner nonchalant dreadhead, a term for those laid-back and effortlessly cool.

     But of course, it’s not all serious; Roosevelt’s version of brainrot is packed with humor and flirtation. For example, if someone’s been flirtatiously talking with charisma, people will say they have rizz. You’ll hear friends jokingly rate each other’s “rizz game,” declaring someone’s attempt as flirting as either “W rizz” or “L rizz.” Meanwhile, some kid in the cafeteria might find themselves paying their Fanum Tax– a meme that describes someone taking food from you without asking.

     But it doesn’t stop there. If you spot someone checking out a classmate’s aura (a word people now use to describe someone’s vibe or energy), and reacting with “GYATT!” (short for someone who has a larger backside), you’ve probably witnessed a moment thats almost scripted by TikTok itself. The internet amplifies this objectifying language, turning it into slang that’s constantly used throughout the school halls.

     And then there’s fein, a term used to describe someone who’s overly obsessed with something. Maybe your friend can’t stop yapping (a term for talking too much) about their crush, or they have to watch every Mr Beast video that drops. Calling them a fein has become a new way to point out an over-the-top addiction.

     But all of this Skibidi Toilet, sigma males, rizz, and fanum taxes speaks to the bigger picture of brainrot. Brainrot, or the effect of being chronically online, has turned into a part of culture, blending humor, irony, and the desire to belong into one messy package. At Roosevelt, the students have created a shared language that ties them into the weird, ever-evolving world of the internet. 

Ms. Gee’s Opinion on the New Brainrot Culture

1. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term “brainrot?”

“I think of all the really annoying TikTok sounds and … random internet phrases.”

     2. How often do you hear terms like ‘rizz,’ ‘sigma,’ or ‘gyatt’ in everyday conversations here at school?

“Everyday. I would say everyday within my ninth grade classes. My eleventh graders dont really use brainrot terms.”

    3. What’s one trend that you think is the weirdest that’s come from the internet lately? Why?

“Skibidi Toilet rizz. I literally hate that one and my students say it the most”

   4. Do you feel that you or your students staying on top of these trends is important to fit in?

“Yes, just because it makes me have better relationships with my students. But no, because me personally I could live without knowing them.”

   5. Do you thinks there’s a down side to bing so plugged into internet culture?

“Yes, you become desensitized to certain things. I dont like how my students make Diddy jokes. Its a serious case with victims and they’re making jokes about it.”

   6. What do you think the next big trend or term that’s going to take over will be?

“The upcoming election and memes from Trump and the historical event that might happen if he loses.”