If there’s one term associated with Generation Alpha right now, it might be "brainrot." This word, popularized in countless trend pieces and viral TikToks, is used to describe the supposedly negative effects of constant screen time on young people born between 2010 and 2024. The idea is that these kids, glued to their devices, have somehow "rotted" their brains from too much scrolling.
“Brainrot” has become a catch-all phrase for anything related to Gen Alpha’s online culture, perpetuated by adults who claim that children 14 and younger are addicted to technology, which has impaired their real-world interactions. They’re said to be obsessed with "brainrot slang" like “Ohio” and “Fanum tax,” and rumors suggest they can barely read because they spend too much time on their iPads.
There’s no denying that young people today are more online than any previous generation. A recent survey by market research group YPulse revealed that 65% of 8- to 12-year-olds own an iPhone, and the same percentage have an iPad. For comparison, most millennials didn’t get their first smartphones until they were 16. Additionally, 92% of tweens are active on social media, with many favoring short-form videos over traditional TV shows or movies.
But does this mean their brains are decaying? Scientifically speaking, no. Research on the effects of screens on young people is mixed, and there’s ongoing debate about whether smartphones and social media truly harm children’s development. So far, there’s no solid evidence that being online is inherently bad for mental health. And, of course, a phone or iPad can’t literally rot someone’s brain.
However, after speaking with both experts and Gen Alpha kids themselves, it’s clear that even the youngest among us have concerns about the impact of technology on their lives. Their worries, though, are far more nuanced than the doomsday headlines suggest. In fact, many of these kids seem to have a healthier perspective on technology than some adults, recognizing that their relationship with it will evolve.
What Gen Alpha Really Thinks About Their Tech Use
One thing kids from Gen Alpha want adults to know: they are not all the same.
Take Fiona, an 11-year-old from Brooklyn. Over hot chocolate, she admitted that her screen time is “very concerning.” And she’s not alone—38% of teens in a Pew survey agreed they spend too much time on their phones. But Fiona insists her screen habits are nothing compared to her 5-year-old sister, Margot, who she says is practically glued to her iPad. “It’s holding her captive,” Fiona explained.
Fiona doesn’t view her generation as a monolith but as a "ladder," with each younger rung more obsessed with tech than the one before. She worries about the younger Gen Alphas, like Margot, who seem disconnected from the world around them. One time, she asked her sister for a hug, only for Margot to absentmindedly extend her arms while keeping her eyes fixed on the screen.
While her mom suggested Fiona might be exaggerating, we’ve all likely embellished a sibling’s behavior to make a point. However, Fiona’s point about the differences between generations within Gen Alpha still stands. She claims the younger kids not only use their devices more but are also more entrenched in “brainrot slang,” such as “skibidi,” a term from the viral web series Skibidi Toilet that’s baffling to most adults and even older teens.
Fiona does use some of this slang but in a sarcastic way. For instance, she recently texted a friend, calling them a “Skibidi Ohio rizzler” just for fun. Older kids like her understand the humor behind the slang and use it in a playful, ironic manner.
Gen Alpha’s “Brainrot” Is More Complex Than It Seems
It’s no surprise that Fiona wants to distance herself from the “iPad addiction” stereotype. Who wants to be labeled as brain-dead or tech-obsessed? But according to social media expert Jess Rauchberg, this “brainrot” culture might actually be a clever response to a chaotic world. Gen Alpha kids, many of whom spent their formative years during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced disrupted routines and unprecedented levels of uncertainty. Their memes and seemingly absurd humor reflect an attempt to make sense of the madness.
Rauchberg explains, “Memes that seem bizarre or surreal to older generations are Gen Alpha’s way of processing the chaos they’ve grown up in.”
Reframing “Brainrot”: It’s Not All Bad
Adults fretting over the latest youth trends is nothing new. When millennials were young, parents worried about teens spending too much time at the mall. Today, platforms like TikTok have replaced physical hangouts, and now adults have a front-row seat to Gen Alpha’s digital lives, often offering unsolicited commentary.
This visibility can create tension for kids, who are constantly being judged. On any given day, they can watch TikToks poking fun at their generation or see viral videos of teachers complaining about how “Gen Alphas can’t read or write.” These exaggerated stereotypes can be damaging, making kids feel judged by both adults and their peers.
Contrary to the image of mindless screen-zombies, today’s tweens are quite active in the real world. YPulse found that 88% of 8- to 12-year-olds have hobbies, ranging from sports to crafting. Fiona, for example, is passionate about art and dreams of one day working backstage at Lincoln Center.
Many Gen Alphas are also deeply engaged in societal issues. Seventy-five percent of tweens report being passionate about causes like animal rights and cyberbullying, and 84% have a positive outlook on the future.
Fiona even sees an upside to her sister’s tech immersion—she thinks kids Margot’s age might be better equipped to detect AI-generated content because they’ve been exposed to it for so long. Gen Alpha doesn’t draw a hard line between online and offline interactions; to them, it’s all part of the same reality.
While that may sound unsettling to older generations, it’s worth remembering that millennials also grew up with warnings about how the internet would affect their futures. For better or worse, Gen Alpha is at home in a world the rest of us have had to adapt to.