Gen Z Creators Are Embracing Brain Rot

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


Recently, the term brain rot has evolved from a basic synonym for being chronically online, to a fully-fledged meme and ironic slang language. Words like gooning, rizz, sigma, gyatt, and skibidi have formed a new cultural lexicon that’s shooting content creators to popularity and permanently warping online and offline speech, according to etymologists.

The term brain rot has been used since as early as 2007 to describe the mental state of those who are considered too online. The release of the 2011 video game “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” in which brain rot is a contractible disease, furthered its popularity. As social media blossomed, brain rot also transformed into a noun, referring to low-quality, absurdist, or attention-grabbing content filled with internet references.

But now, brain rot has taken over. We’re all chronically online and brain rot content has grown into its own lucrative content genre, complete with a distinct linguistic style. We’ve also seen the explosion of niche brain rot. There’s political brain rot, sports brain rot, and even skincare brain rot.

This week, we dove deep into the rise of brain rot and whether this new internet language has staying power. Read the full story here.


CULTURE

How Brain Rot Became the Internet’s Newest Language

Brain melting into phone screen

Try Out The New TikTok Ad Assistant

If you’re trying to grow your TikTok audience, buying ads that extend the reach of your content is the platform’s preferred way to do it. Give yourself the gift of attention and set up a TikTok for Business Account today and get up to $100 in bonus advertising when you spend your first $100.


IN THE BIZ


LABOR

New Report Finds That Most Creators Make Under $50K

Nearly 2,000 creators were surveyed.

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

Linktree logo and a conceptual photo collage of a rising bar line and shopping carts.

PERSONALITIES

YouTuber Oompaville Doesn’t Know How He Got the MrBeast Interview

YouTuber Oompaville sat down with MrBeast to discuss the various allegations surrounding his YouTube channel.

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor


UPCOMING EVENTS


WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • On Eve of SAG’s Big Win, A Final F You to Voice-over Artists

    On Eve of SAG’s Big Win, A Final F You to Voice-over Artists

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #191 | December 5, 2023 The SAG strike is over, huzzah! And thus concludes our Hot Labor Summer, which lasted unseasonably late into December, probably because of climate change. So we’re wrapping things up here, right? Shut it down, because the new contract passed with a resounding 78%…voted on by a whole…

  • Squid Game Season is Here Again

    Squid Game Season is Here Again

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #190 | November 30, 2023 There’s something so disingenuous about the holidays for creators. Like oh, your Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales are a whole 16% off? Thanks, but I was so busy live-streaming on Twitch during Thanksgiving weekend to even clock it; I’d been hoping to earn enough in tips to fly…

  • Stranger Than UnFiction: Why Creators Should Care About ARGs

    Stranger Than UnFiction: Why Creators Should Care About ARGs

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #189 | November 28, 2023 If there’s one thing we love about the Internet, it’s how weird it is, and how deeply passionate fans of subcult followings tend to be. (Although, arguably, this is also why the Internet is the worst place?)  Which is why I’m so obsessed with unfiction: the genre…