Now, two numbers such as 6 and 7 don't simply just mean numbers anymore.
Let's face it, we've all heard the jokes.
"Brain rot."
"Skibidi."
"Italian brainrot."
The internet has become flooded with bizarre memes, AI-generated nonsense, and trends that seem to make less sense every week. From surreal TikTok videos to endless references that disappear as quickly as they appear, many dismiss them as harmless entertainment.
But beneath the humour lies a more serious question.
What is all of this doing to the way young people think?
For years, discussions about excessive screen time have largely centred on children. Parents are encouraged to limit tablet use, schools warn about digital addiction, and experts often focus on protecting young minds.
Starting June 1st of 2026, the Malaysian government has aided in this sense that it banned the usage of social media completely for children ages 16 and below.
However, what about teenagers and young adults? Once they pass childhood, many assume they are mature enough to regulate their own digital habits. Increasingly, evidence suggests that assumption deserves another look.
The AI explosion and an endless supply of content
Since late 2022, artificial intelligence has transformed the internet.
AI tools can now generate essays, images, videos, voices, and even entire conversations within seconds. At the same time, recommendation algorithms have become remarkably effective at keeping users engaged. Every swipe delivers another perfectly tailored piece of content.
The result is an almost limitless stream of information.
While AI has undoubtedly brought enormous benefits to education, creativity, and productivity, it has also made it easier than ever for people to consume content without ever reaching a stopping point.
For many young people, scrolling has become a default activity rather than a conscious choice.
The rise of short-form content
Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are built around videos that often last less than a minute.
Individually, a 30-second clip seems insignificant. Collectively, however, hours can disappear without users even realising it.
Unlike books, documentaries, or even traditional YouTube videos, short-form content constantly demands attention before quickly moving on to the next stimulus. Every swipe introduces a fresh topic, joke, or emotional reaction.
This creates an environment where sustained focus becomes increasingly difficult.
Losing the habit of long-term thinking
Perhaps the biggest concern isn't intelligence itself.
It's attention.
Critical thinking requires time. Solving problems, evaluating arguments, and reflecting on ideas all depend on the ability to stay mentally engaged with one subject for an extended period.
Constant exposure to rapid-fire content encourages the opposite.
Instead of sitting with one idea, users are trained to seek the next dopamine hit. Emotional reactions become shorter, information is processed more superficially, and deep reflection becomes less common.
Over time, many young people report finding it harder to finish books, study for long periods, or concentrate during lectures without feeling the urge to check their phones
Researchers have also linked excessive screen time and problematic social media use with reduced attention, poorer academic performance, and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. While these studies do not prove that short-form videos alone are responsible, they suggest that our digital habits can influence how we think and learn.
It's not just children anymore
This issue extends well beyond childhood.
Teenagers and young adults now spend significant portions of their day online. Various surveys around the world consistently show that many adolescents spend several hours each day using smartphones, with social media accounting for a large share of that time.
As screen time increases, many traditional hobbies slowly fade into the background.
Reading for pleasure becomes less frequent. Long conversations become shorter. Activities that once demanded patience—learning an instrument, building models, painting, or even simply sitting with one's thoughts—often struggle to compete with an endless stream of instantly rewarding content.
Some people even catch themselves instinctively reaching for their phones during moments of silence, unable to tolerate boredom for more than a few seconds.
A challenge worth confronting
Technology itself is not the enemy.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising medicine, science, education, and countless other industries. Social media connects people across the globe and provides opportunities that previous generations could hardly imagine.
The problem arises when convenience replaces curiosity, and endless consumption replaces meaningful engagement.
The critical minds of young people are not disappearing overnight. Rather, they risk being gradually shaped by an online environment designed to capture attention instead of encouraging reflection.
Perhaps the solution is not to reject technology, but to use it more intentionally.
The next time you instinctively open TikTok or Instagram, pause for a moment and ask yourself one simple question:
Am I choosing what I want to watch, or is the algorithm choosing how I think?
Jaden W (wmjaden3@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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