An epidemic has been silently spreading among Generation Z and Generation Alpha for the past two years. Unlike a typical illness, this one isn’t physical, instead it’s infecting the brain metaphorically. More young people are “infected” than ever before, and the symptoms are everywhere.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, brainrot is defined as “the supposed deterioration of mental or intellectual state, especially from overconsuming low-quality or trivial online content.”

In simpler terms, “brainrot” refers to internet memes or phrases that are so absurd they become funny.

The primary group who are victims to this epidemic are students. Just one simple word can trigger uncontrollable laughter in classrooms. Words like massive, hawk, toilet, aura, and sigma have become inside jokes among the youth, baffling teachers and parents alike.

Most adults remain unaware of brainrot and its ever-evolving vocabulary. However, one term has managed to break into mainstream conversation: rizz.

What is rizz?

Rizz is derived from the word charisma, rizz is used to describe someone’s ability to attract others, particularly in a romantic sense.

For example:

“Cody, you just rizzed that girl up!” This means Cody successfully flirted with a girl, sparking her romantic interest.

“Liam, you have negative rizz.” This means Liam is so uncharismatic that he has no ability to attract women whatsoever.

Though once a widely used term, rizz has lost some of its charm. Like many internet trends, it became less amusing when teachers and parents started using it. Now, it’s often used ironically among friends to make fun of each other.

Another brainrot-infused term that is extremely popular is aura. While its original definition remains the same which is referring to a person’s presence or vibe, it now has a new humorous intention when used.

For example:

“Cody, you have infinite aura.”  Cody’s presence is so strong that people naturally respect or fear him, giving him a higher up status.

A person with a strong aura might also be referred to as a sigma.

Traditionally, sigma is simply the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, commonly used in math. However, among Gen Z and Gen Alpha, it has taken on an entirely new meaning.

A sigma male is portrayed as a “lone wolf” who plays by his own rules, often depicted as highly successful and independent. The term first appeared in 2010 when author Theodore Robert Beale introduced it as an alternative to the traditional alpha-beta male hierarchy. Some men adopted the term with pride, but the internet quickly turned it into a meme.

Today, sigma is mostly used ironically. If someone says, “Liam, you’re so sigma,” they likely mean the opposite. They’re likely mocking someone who thinks they’re cool when they really aren’t.

One of the most infamous brainrot terms to emerge in recent years is Skibidi Toilet. This strange YouTube series, primarily aimed at children, has become wildly popular with kids. However, many people struggle to understand why it’s so popular.

The series revolves around human heads emerging from toilets in an ongoing battle with humans that have cameras for heads. The series is so idiotic that it quickly became an internet joke. While the show itself is widely regarded as peak brainrot, joking about Skibidi Toilet has also become a form of brainrot humor itself.

Recently, TikTok has fueled the brainrot epidemic with a viral trend that has racked up millions of views. The challenge is getting a middle-aged adult—usually a parent—to read a list of brainrot terms while the poster and their friends or siblings try not to laugh with water in their mouths.

Since most adults have never encountered words like Skibidi Toilet, rizz, or sigma male, they often mispronounce them horribly. Hearing a completely confused parent struggle through brainrot has made millions of users online laugh.

While brainrot is mostly seen as harmless fun, some worry about its connection to chronically online behavior. This term refers to people who spend so much time on the internet—especially on social media—that it begins to shape their speech, thinking, and even social interactions.

Since many brainrot jokes require an in-depth knowledge of niche online trends, staying up to date often means spending hours scrolling through internet content. This raises concerns about younger generations becoming too immersed in digital culture at the expense of real life connections.

Whether brainrot is just another fleeting internet trend or a sign of something deeper, one thing is certain—it’s not disappearing anytime soon.