If you’ve heard your child mention “brainrot,” or caught them laughing at videos that seem completely nonsensical, you’re not alone. Many parents are puzzled by clips featuring floating heads from Skibidi Toilet, surreal Ohio memes or random edits stitched together with strange sound effects. To an adult, it can feel confusing, even a bit concerning.
The word brainrot sounds dramatic, but young people use it in a light, humorous way. It describes a style of content that is intentionally chaotic, silly and meaningless — watched purely because it’s entertaining. This type of media spreads quickly on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, especially among kids and teens who enjoy fast, surprising content.
So what does brainrot actually mean, and should parents be worried?
What “brainrot” refers to
Online, the term is used in two main ways.
First, it describes content that is deliberately absurd or low-effort: videos that don’t follow a story, memes that focus on randomness rather than humour and edits filled with loud sounds or quick cuts. Kids enjoy this material because it breaks every rule about what entertainment is supposed to be.
Second, it can refer to the effect of consuming too much short-form media. Endless scrolling can make focused attention harder and can reinforce the desire for constant stimulation. In this sense, “brainrot” is a playful way kids describe feeling glued to their feeds.
Examples of brainrot content
While the category can be broad, some formats show up again and again:
Skibidi Toilet – an animated series where heads pop out of toilets and battle each other with no storyline behind it.
Ohio memes – a surreal joke format portraying Ohio as a strange, illogical alternate world.
Chaotic TikTok compilations – rapid-fire clips with random audio, jump cuts and bright captions.
Shitpost memes – intentionally low-quality images or videos designed to be entertaining because they make no sense.
The “6–7” meme – a trend built around the phrase “six seven,” lifted from a song and repeated in reaction videos, mashups and edits. It doesn’t mean anything. The humour comes from how unexpectedly it appears and how often it’s remixed into unrelated clips.
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This content rarely has a message or purpose, and that is exactly why it appeals to kids. It offers a break from structure, expectations and reality — a moment of pure silliness.
Why kids and teens enjoy brainrot
From a developmental perspective, this type of humour makes sense.
Brainrot content is unpredictable, and the surprise itself is funny.
It allows kids to participate in a shared cultural moment with their friends.
It doesn’t require deep concentration, so it feels relaxing after school or homework.
It creates inside jokes that help young people feel connected to their peer group.
What looks meaningless to adults often serves a social purpose for kids.
Is brainrot harmful?
Most of the time, no. The content itself is usually harmless, similar to past trends like Harlem Shake videos or older meme formats that adults didn’t understand at the time.
The concern isn’t the memes — it’s the volume.
Too much chaotic, fast-paced content can make it harder for kids to settle into activities that require patience or focus. Constant stimulation can also encourage shorter attention spans and a desire for quick rewards, something we already see across digital platforms.
This doesn’t mean brainrot is dangerous. It simply highlights why balance matters.
What parents can do
A thoughtful approach works better than worry.
Create awareness about screen habits together as a family.
Check in periodically about what your child is watching so you understand the tone and themes. Encourage offline activities that give the brain a break from rapid stimulation.
Treat it as a phase rather than a crisis. Most kids move on to the next trend quickly. '
The goal isn’t to eliminate brainrot entirely. It’s to help children develop a healthy relationship with the digital world.
A practical tool for balance
For families who want to reduce exposure to apps and constant scrolling, a child-friendly smartwatch or simple phone can help. These devices offer calling, messaging and safety features without social media, web access or endless video feeds. They give kids independence while supporting healthier digital habits.
