With too many gadgets and internet access becoming ubiquitous, there is no dearth of the attraction that these devices, apps, games and social media, offer to people of all age groups. Oxfords word of the year 2024 Brain rot – highlights the damage caused by over engagement on online content that is trivial and unchallenging.

Right from infants, children, adolescents, adults all the way up to senior and super senior citizens, we are enamoured by the variety offered by technology especially social media and are endlessly entertained by them. But when we purposelessly scroll the feeds, be it insta reels or youtube shorts or facebook videos or mindless forwards on the chat apps, do they add any value. It is fascinating to our brain for sure and keeps us coming back for more. Many times once we start looking at the reels, it is un-put-downable. But is it healthy? Or does it damage us more than the entertainment that it offers?

‘Brain rot’ – Oxford’s word of the year 2024

‘Brain rot’ – Oxford’s word of the year 2024 – is “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. Also: something characterized as likely to lead to such deterioration”.

To understand this, we need to delve a bit into the reward – reinforcement mechanisms at play. We all know the basics of reinforcement and punishment. If a behaviour is desirable, then we reinforce it. Reinforcement encourages the desired behaviour to occur more. When a behaviour is rewarded every single time then its called continuous reinforcement. When the reinforcement occurs for a desired behaviour, but not every single time, then its called variable reinforcement. This is a powerful way of keeping us glued to any app or device or game. When we cannot expect what will show up in the next reel, it keeps us excited. and keeps our dopamine reward system active – making us crave for it even more.

On the other hand, overuse of technology is also adding to the endemic loneliness gripping our society today

Your phone or tab or social media can be endlessly entertaining. It may not demand that you do your chores or have a meaningful conversation or interaction with it. Everything is available at the touch of your fingers. You don’t have to deal with the messiness of a real relationship. Yet that is exact what we need today. Difficult situations, disagreements and conflicts and learning to manage them, dealing with ambiguity, which we are all robbed of with mindless scrolling of social media and endless entertainment. We are robbed of the opportunity to work our brain muscles to build our capacity, to deal with, to cope with, to problem solve, and to make and maintain real connections in real life.

Inner Dawn counsellor Kala Balasubramanian’s views featured in herzindagi.com

https://www.herzindagi.com/society-culture/oxfords-declares-word-of-the-year-brain-rot-why-we-seek-it-and-what-it-does-to-our-brains-article-1010276

The post Brain rot – What you need to know about mindless online scrolling first appeared on Inner Dawn Counselling.

Online toxic trolling, body shaming – has been put on a spotlight with the recent trolling of the UP Class 10 topper, for her physical appearance. It is heart breaking to see how a young bright student’s success has invited so much hatred and toxic trolling online, making this moment of celebration into a nightmare.

For a young child / adolescent, the support of family, friends and school is absolutely critical to help them not get significantly impacted by such trolling. In the absence of support it can cause anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. In extreme situations, some children may resort to self harm or even suicidal ideation or attempts.

What support can parents and others provide

Parents can encourage the child to stay away from social media for a while, talk to parents if something is troubling them / share their feelings (sad, scared, confused, hopeless, worthless and more) which parents are not aware of, or seek professional help in the form of counselling for the young child / adolescent as needed.

Social media companies also need to be held accountable for what is posted on their platforms, be it hate messages or toxic trolling or the likes.

Why do people engage in toxic trolling

On the other hand, trolls in general come from a space of low self esteem or cannot empathise with the pain of the other whom they are trolling. They may be externalizing their aggression to cope with internal negative feelings. Anonymity, emboldens online trolls, to say anything online and get away with it. And they believe that they cannot be held accountable. When they succeed in getting a reaction, they get encouraged to troll more. Trolling at an extreme is a form of abuse and and harassment.

When parents and teachers can teach their wards, about the impact of their actions and feel empathy for other’s pain, the next generation at least can learn to be more socially responsible both in their online and in person actions.

Inner Dawn Counsellor / Psychotherapist Kala Balasubramanian’s views featured in the Indian Express 1-May-2024.

Click here for The article on Indian Express

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