Too Much Screen Time Can Cause Brain Rot, How Come?

Illustration (Ivan Samkov/Pexels)

JAKARTA - The term "brain rot" refers to the condition of decreasing thinking and cognitive abilities due to consuming too much content that is considered of low quality or not challenging on the internet.

According to Gary Small, MD, head of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center at Hackensack, New Jersey and author of The Memory Bible says that the rot brain is not a true medical diagnosis.

Maybe you spend hours on the sofa watching low-quality videos. Instead of feeling fresh, you actually feel dizzy and tired. Brain rot actually makes someone lazy.

There has been no clear study of the stages of the rot brain occurring, but some experts suspect dopamine is involved here. Dopamine is a "delightful" hormone. Revolving social media can increase the level of brain dopamine. And one will feel happy at the beginning.

However, gradually the brain can become too stimulated and exhausted. If a person uses a cell phone every day, that person can experience chronic stress. Here's a further explanation of who can experience a rot brain, what it feels like, and how to prevent its impact.

Brain damage can affect anyone, at any age. This term was first used by Henry David Thoreau in 1854. He defines "brain damage" as a condition in which one prefers simple ideas over complex ideas. As for now, modern technology allows people to consume memes and small videos on the internet. So the rot brain is now defined as a blunt state of brain function.

"Of the 5 billion social media users, anyone can experience brain damage," Small said. Teenage girls are the biggest users. They spend almost three hours a day on social media timelines.

"That means a lot of time is taken to do other activities that can enrich cognitively," Small said.

These activities can be in the form of reading, doing hobbies, or gathering with friends.

Many healthy activities can build brain function. Incidents or challenging conditions can force the brain to actively work.

"But when someone only scrolles through social media, the brain is not trained. The brain will become passive," Small said.

The activities of rolling out social media for hours will only endanger and weaken brain work.

There are several things that can cause the rot brain, namely;

Moderate screen time may not be a problem. However, if too much, the effect begins to be felt.

"Because rolling the screen continuously increases the level of brain dopamine, it can actually become behavioral addiction, where a person feels the need to do it continuously."

Here are some other effects on the brain;

Shorter range of attention. "If the brain is used to short content, it will be more difficult for him to focus on more complex tasks," said Daniel Schacter, PhD, a professor of psychology at Harvard University.

A person may find it more difficult to complete work projects, read books, or even chat.

Memory problems. If you spend most of your time on social media, it can be annoying. And less useful content can get rid of a person's reason to remember something. A review finds that internet content can affect memory. A person may not tend to remember certain tasks such as birthdays or directions.

Problem solving problems. Too much time in front of the screen can thin the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that controls memory, decision making, and solving problems. With less brain tissue, gradually a person will find it difficult to carry out daily activities, Small said.

Anxiety. Research shows stress levels can increase if you experience Mcmscroll. And also increase anxiety.

"When a person experiences chronic stress, it also affects memory," Small said.

"If you look at the screen too much, this means overstimulating the brain."

Because it is surrounded by technology, then how to prevent brain damage. Here are some things you can do to avoid the rot brain.

Set the time limit for using the screen. Comply with the time limit for using daily screens. This includes your time on social media sites such as TikTok or Facebook.

"Thirty seconds to a few minutes" is a good start, Small said. Turn off all social media notifications to stay focused.

Mindfulness training. Mindfulness can help prevent brain damage. This exercise helps retrain the brain to focus.

"This can help you stop the habit of scrolling through social media unconsciously," Small said. Research shows that mindfulness can help increase the density of gray matter in the brain. Gray material helps study and remember.

If you're not sure where to start, try to breathe deeply for 10 minutes.

"Inhale through the nose for four counts. Hold on for four counts and exhale through the mouth for another four counts," Small said.

Stay physically active. Increase blood flow to the brain by exercising. Physical activity can "enhancing brain neuroplasticity, namely the ability to adapt and develop," Small said.

Studies show that physical fitness helps you focus and concentrate especially on teenagers. Try to exercise moderately for about 150 minutes at least five days a week. You can walk fast, swim, or cycle.

Reading. Join newspapers, articles, or books. Regular reading people tend to have a lower risk of cognitive decline.

"Unlike a short online video, reading encourages to expand the range of attention," Schacter said.

"Reading also strengthens parts of the brain associated with more complex language and cognitive functions."

Limit multitasking. About 40 percent of adults do multitasking using digital devices. This can increase stress and reduce productivity.

"The brain will be very depressed because it has to shift quickly between tasks," Schacter said. Over time, multitasking can damage memory, as well as the ability to plan, focus, and regulate.

Keep socializing. Interacting with family and friends on social media is not the same as interacting directly.

"When meeting people directly, someone focuses on things like body language, which helps keep the brain active," Small said. Meeting people directly can also reduce the risk of depression.

Feeling sad or desperate can worsen brain condition. A survey of young adults found that they had fewer symptoms of depression with more offline support.

Activities outdoors. Turn off all the device and spend time outdoors. This is one of the best ways to prevent brain fog.

"It lowers stress levels, improves mood, and increases overall focus," Small said. "All that is needed for a healthy brain."

In addition, it can also carry out digital detoxes in various places. Staying away from social media for only seven days can improve mental health.

Brain rot describes a mental decline that you may experience after watching low-quality internet content for a long time. Scrolling the screen non-stop can increase dopamine levels, which causes memory problems, shorter range of attention, difficulty focusing, stress, and anxiety. The best way to prevent brain damage is to limit screen viewing time, train awareness, and stay active in life.