Is 'Brain Rot' Real? How Too Much Time Online Can Affect Your Mind

Research suggests that excessive scrolling on social media may impact cognition and mental health

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A recent meta-analysis found that increased use of short-form video platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts was linked to poorer cognition and increased anxiety. A 2025 study published in Translational Psychiatry looked at data from over 7,000 children and found that more screen time was associated with reduced cortical thickness in areas of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking, memory, and decision-making. However, not all screen time is equal, as a study that removed social media from kids' devices but allowed regular phone use did not show the same harmful effects.

Why it matters

As more people, especially young people, spend increasing amounts of time consuming short-form video content, there are growing concerns about the potential cognitive and mental health impacts. Understanding how different types of screen time can affect the brain is crucial for developing healthy digital habits.

The details

The 2025 study found that increased screen time, particularly on short-form video platforms, was linked to reduced cortical thickness in areas of the brain involved in impulse control, addiction, and ADHD symptoms. However, a separate study showed that when social media was removed from kids' devices but regular phone use was allowed, the harmful effects were not present, suggesting that it's the specific activities on screens that matter, not just overall screen time.

  • The 2025 study was published in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
  • The recent meta-analysis examined the scientific literature on the effects of short-form video use.

The players

Mitch Prinstein

A senior science adviser to the American Psychological Association and professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who was not involved in the 2025 study.

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What they’re saying

“We really need it for things like inhibitory control or not being so impulsive.”

— Mitch Prinstein, Professor of psychology and neuroscience

“Those seem to be the areas being affected by the reduced cortical thickness.”

— Mitch Prinstein, Professor of psychology and neuroscience

The takeaway

As the use of short-form video platforms continues to rise, especially among young people, it is crucial to understand the potential cognitive and mental health impacts. While more research is needed, the findings suggest that the specific activities on screens, rather than just overall screen time, may be the key factor in determining the effects on the brain.