“Brain rot”

Founded in 1586, Oxford University Press is one of the oldest and most important university and academic publishers in the world.

Oxford defines the term “Brain rot,” which was named the word of the year by the prestigious university, as “The supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”

Behavioural neuroscientist Dr Kyra Bobinet explains the consequences of brain rot as follows: “People have difficulty with their attention span. They feel like their mind is foggy, they have less focus… They can’t do deep work.”

The term “brain rot” was first brought to my attention by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Melissa Fleming, during her keynote address at the recent International Publishers Congress held in Guadalajara.

And she went further, stating that: “Even worse, the constant stream of content – much of it contaminated with misinformation, disinformation and hate- is what now passes for our public sphere.”

“But it is a public sphere that, too often, shuts down meaningful debate.
A space where vicious trolls silence dissent. Attacking and driving out vulnerable, or minority voices. And harming individuals all over the world.”

“Fake news sites, deep fakes – disinformation so convincing, so personalized, that even expert fact-checkers are struggling to spot it in real time.
This is eroding trust – in institutions, in science, and in facts themselves.”

Hannah Arendt, the German historian and philosopher who developed the concept of the “banality of evil,” wrote the following in relation with the totalitarian regimes of her time:

“Constant lying is not intended to make people believe a lie, but to ensure that no one believes anything anymore. People that can no longer distinguish between right and wrong. And such people, deprived of the power to think and judge, are, unwittingly and unwillingly, completely subjected to the rule of lies. With people like that, you can do whatever you want.”

Mrs Fleming went on to state that: “No wonder so many people no longer know what to believe. At the UN, we have long been warning that this information ecosystem is toxic and is causing grave harm to our world.”

Several scientists, such as Dr. Maryanne Wolf, have warned about the consequences of losing deep reading skills. At the International Publishers Congress, the renowned researcher from the University of Ljubljana, Miha Kovač, spoke about the importance of higher-level reading for the development of critical thinking. He warned that:

“Recent empirical research shows that the digital environment is having a negative impact on reading, in particular on long-form reading and reading comprehension.”

“The act of higher-level reading is an exercise in attention and cognitive patience, expanding vocabulary and conceptual capacities, and actively challenging readers’ preconceptions. It is especially long-form texts, such as books, that sharpen our higher-level reading skills.”

“Higher-level reading is our most powerful tool for analytic and strategic thinking. Without it, we are ill-equipped to counter populist simplifications, conspiracy theories and disinformation, and we consequently become vulnerable to manipulation.”

The Psychologs journal tells us that: “While digital media is just one tool we use, unbridled consumption can lead our minds into a passive or disconnected state. The consequences can range from mere distractions to extreme cognitive impairment.”

“Modern neuroscience studies have suggested that chronic overstimulation (which is usually caused by brain rot) can impair neuroplasticity (our brain’s ability to learn, adapt, and develop new neural pathways or connections). To keep our minds functioning, we need to adopt a brain-healthier lifestyle and be more mindful of the content we consume on a daily basis.”

In front of an audience of more than 200 publishers from over 40 countries, gathered in Guadalajara for the International Publishers Congress, Mrs. Fleming offered us the solution:

“Books are our antidote. Libraries, our sanctuaries.”

“In an age when our minds are crying out for more nutritious information, more contemplation. So, what does that diet look like? It looks like non-fiction that both entertains and educates. Produced by ethical journalists and authors acting in the public interest. And printed by independent publishers exercising their full freedom to publish. This, then, is the power of a book in an age like ours.”

This is precisely where the publishers’ mission lies: to freely provide validated and curated information, with texts that invite reflection and prevent us from brain rot.

Publishers worldwide are committed to education and culture in their different countries, as well as to the task of providing these valuable antidotes to brain rot.