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Brain Rot
The term “brain rot” content on social media refers to a category characterized by its bizarre, nonsensical, or even disturbing nature. These types of posts, videos, or memes prioritize shock value over quality, aiming to capture your attention through weirdness. Examples include viral challenges like the “Skibidi Challenge,” where participants mimic a peculiar dance, or odd trends such as “toilet humor” content, which involves sharing videos or images of people engaging in gross behavior in bathroom settings.
While this content may initially appear harmless or entertaining to some, it contributes to a state known as “scroll fatigue”. This happens when users become desensitized to actual informative content due to this overwhelming flood of deadening material. Long exposure to brain rot content may also negatively impact your mental health by fostering a sense of being able to normalize these unhealthy behaviors. Users need to exercise discernment and moderation in their social media consumption and figure out how to prioritize viewing content that may actually be beneficial to them.
The platforms that typically foster this type of content include TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. These forms of social media allow you to watch quick videos which can span from a few seconds to about a minute. “Brain rot” content thrives in short videos due to its brevity and quick consumption, which caters to the short attention span that many have developed. It prioritizes immediate reactions over substance and quality. Some content creators resort to simple, attention-grabbing tactics to attract views, and social media algorithms favor the easily digestible, “clickbaity” content that generates engagement quickly among younger audiences. As a result, the desire for likes often outweighs the pursuit of posting a meaningful or intellectual form content in these format.
As a result of this type of content growing on popular platforms, it seems likely that it will not be going away for a long time. The different platforms preferences for brief, easily consumable videos is a driving factor for the expansion of brain rot content, where the pursuit of likes often eclipses the more meaningful content creation. It’s best to try and veer away from these type of things so that you yourself do not get sucked into watching this like many others.
AI Content on X
X, formerly Twitter, is a social media platform that allows users to post short messages, known as tweets, of up to 280 characters. It’s a space where people share their thoughts, opinions, current news, and engage in conversations on various topics with other users, often using hashtags or key phrases to connect with broader audiences. With millions of users worldwide, X has become a prominent platform for that is widely used in many places.
Ever since the introduction of AI chatbots and art generators, posts and advertisements utilizing this technology have become more and more prevalent within the app. Users include AI in their posts primarily through third-party services that integrate these capabilities. For instance, they might use AI-powered tools for image or video editing/creating to enhance pictures before sharing them on the app. Though AI is being used for content creation, it is also used to promote false advertising and news that many still fall for.
AI is misused in false advertising on X through various methods. One common tactic that is widely used is the creation of fake accounts or bots that promote fraudulent products or services. These accounts most often use AI-generated profile pictures and automated text to appear authentic and able engage with users. Additionally, these algorithms can be employed to target specific demographics, such as older people, with misleading advertisements or manipulate trends and hashtags to create false narratives. This misuse of AI technology undermines the trust put into others and it has harmful consequences for users and businesses on the platform.
Luckily, there is a feature within the app called Community Notes. These allow users to indirectly support fact-checking a post. Users within the community can annotate a post and give it additional information and context that may not be included. Through the use of this, there is almost always a community note under a post made with AI, more often than not it is someone stating this it is AI-generated because they hate on the fact that it is AI-generated.
Because the presence of AI is becoming more common among society, It is important to recognize how AI is used on all platforms of social media and how you can identify what is factual and what isn’t to keep yourself well informed and knowledgeable.
Playing Trombone
For the past eight years, my journey with the trombone has been an escalation of challenges as well as triumphs. Starting at a very novice level in fourth grade, I stumbled through the basics, usually struggling to find the right pitch for a note, but by sticking with it, I found my way through to the next years. Middle school ushered me into the concert band, where I honed my skills amidst my peers, and had developed friendships that still last today with many of them. The transition to wind ensemble in ninth grade elevated me, pushing myself and the other students to new heights of proficiency and forms of expression. Even so, it was the environment of the marching band that allowed me to find my place in music. For five years, I’ve been a member of the marching, playing songs throughout the football seasons, most of them stemming from almost entirely different genres. With each note played, each step taken, it has been a tribute to my hobby of playing music. As I reflect on these experiences, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities I received to grow, create, and perform alongside fellow musicians. Even outside of school, I had taken private lessons before to really experience a face to face lesson on how to better myself and create better sound qualities.
While my trombone has been a constant thing in my life, I’ve also made an effort to balance my musical career with a social life outside of it. I enjoy carving out time for friends, whether it’s grabbing a bite to eat or attending school events together or even doing something fun like seeing a movie. I’d rather spend my weekends doing these sorts of activities, providing a much-needed break from the rigors of performances and just playing in general. By maintaining connections outside of music, I cultivated a sense of belonging and fulfillment that enriched both of my personal and artistic endeavors.
Though playing an instrument has been a moderate size portion of my academic life, I feel like I do not plan to pursue anything with it beyond high school, however. As my senior year approaches, I find myself contemplating my future path, and it seems to be leading away from the familiarity of the trombone. While music has been a part of my high school experience, I can’t shake the feeling that it was intertwined with the faces and voices of my friends within the band. The thought of pursuing music without their presence feels a bit hollow, reminding me of what once was. Instead, I’m drawn to explore new areas where I can make new connections and create memories that go beyond the confines of playing an instrument.
Playing the trombone will always be something I remember fondly, even as I step back from the formal musical pursuits, as it serves as a reminder of the journey that shaped part of my identity.
Finding Identity at AHS
Within the halls of any school lies the potential for self-discovery. Students navigate the corridors of adolescence to forge their identities. The journey to finding one’s identity within a high school community is an experience filled with twists and turns, yet with a good approach, can become a transformative experience. One of the best for self-exploration is through extracurricular activities, whether it’s joining a sports team, participating in a debate club, or embracing the arts. These activities allow students to explore what they love to do and build lasting relationships with those around them.
Creating connections with peers can significantly shape your sense of self. Schools are micro-societies, mostly comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives on different topics. By engaging in meaningful conversations, collaborating on projects, and sharing experiences, you can broaden and deepen your understanding of how others work and why some feel the way they do. Through these interactions, students not only learn about others but also about themselves, discovering where they fit within the school community.
Here at Avonworth, many of the social groups relate back to outside activities, which I stated before. Not all students find it easy to fit in with certain groups at our school. This could be because of their different interests and backgrounds, or that they feel uncomfortable in social situations. For these students, making connections and feeling accepted can be challenging. Schools should work to create an inclusive environment where all students feel valued, regardless of their differences so that it will provide equal opportunities and accommodate those who feel ostracized in any way.
When schools are inclusive or at least strive for it to feel that way through any means, students will feel welcomed and valued, no matter who they are. It encourages authenticity within the actions and words between students, meaningful connections, and a supportive community where everyone can thrive.
Do students feel that current events affect them?
Global events can change how students see things. From climate change to social issues, whatever is happening globally could make them think differently. Due to the increasing access to lots of information about these things, it could cause some to rethink their ideas and become more aware of their impact on the world or what the impact of others could cause them. I interviewed a few students here at Avonworth with the same question: Do you think current events affect you? I decided to keep these opinions anonymous since some views might not line up with what a majority of students think.
The first response I got from a student was “Yeah, I definitely do. It’s like everything happening out there makes it into our lives in some way. Big stuff like elections or smaller things like trends shapes conversations we have with people and our perspectives, and even our choices sometimes.” Many other students may feel this way since Elections and other political events appear in some way, whether big or small, such as affecting the content they see with advertisements trying to influence the opinions of people. The youth of the world needs to stay well informed about current events so that we may learn from the mistakes of the past, as seen in numerous historical events as well.
Another response I received that contradicts the previous one in certain ways was “I think that they do not affect my life for the most part, but they often take up my thinking and make me appreciate the life I have more.” This quote may suggest that while current events might not directly impact your day-to-day life, it still occupies some significant portion of the thoughts you have. Despite not experiencing direct consequences, there is some value in contemplating these events as they serve as reminders for us to appreciate our circumstances and the lives that we have. Although current events may not change our lives immediately, they contribute to a deeper sense of gratitude and perspective on their own.
In conclusion, I feel that it is important for students to have their own opinions on these situations as they may find some comfort or solace in what they believe. For change to happen, we must understand the sides of all perspectives to create a broader sense of understanding.
Yes, I Totally agree. Stuff like ¨Skibidi toilet¨ has taken over the internet and kids have been going crazy. People need to stop watching dumb things like that it’s affecting their brains and it´s really dumb.
SKIBIDI TOILET IS AMAZING AND BRAINROT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE SO RIZZLY!!!11!!!!1
I personally think that the brainrot is weird but kind of funny.