Science & Society

The truth about brain rot, according to science

Emerging research suggests overusing digital devices can be harmful. But can this truly rot our brains?

An artistic interpretation of brain rot

Illustration by Noah Verrier

By Kathryn Hulick

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Emma Lembke joined Instagram at age 12. Soon, she found herself “scrolling mindlessly for hours, addicted to gaining a certain number of likes, a certain number of comments.”