Oxford University's Word of the Year (opens in new tab)

Oxford University just announced "brain rot" as their Word of the Year for 2023. Defined as the cognitive decline caused by excessive exposure to low-quality or mindless digital content, the term is often linked to habits like endless scrolling on social media platforms.

Social media, once celebrated as a means to connect and democratize information, is now being recognized for its unintended consequences:

  -  Reduced focus and attention spans
  -  Algorithm-driven echo chambers
  -  Doomscrolling-induced anxiety
  -  A decline in creativity and deep work

This raises important questions for our community:

Have we reached a societal tipping point? It seems like there’s growing consensus about the need to rethink how we design and interact with digital products.

What role should creators and engineers play in addressing this? Should platforms prioritize mental well-being over engagement metrics? How do we individually combat "brain rot"?

Many of us, despite working in tech, feel the pull of distraction. Personally, this has pushed me toward digital minimalism. I’ve been experimenting with ways to reduce digital noise, like disabling notifications, setting app limits, and building simple tools to block distractions. (Shameless plug: I recently launched a free app aimed at helping users manage screen time and refocus — happy to share if there’s interest!)

The Word of the Year feels like a cultural wake-up call. While it highlights a grim reality, it also presents an opportunity to build tools, habits, and systems that help us regain control over our attention.

What do you think? Does this mark a broader shift in how society views our digital ecosystem? And what can we, as builders, do to create more intentional tech moving forward?