النشرة المعرفية: 22 سبتمبر 2026

Do you find yourself moving from one video to another without noticing how much time has passed? Has reading a few pages or completing a lengthy task become more difficult than it used to be? You may have come across the term “brain rot,” one of the most widely used expressions for describing people’s relationship with digital content.
While the term “brain rot” may sound alarming, it is not a medical condition, nor does it mean that the brain is literally rotting. Rather, it is a metaphor used to describe a presumed decline in mental or intellectual well-being resulting from excessive consumption of superficial or low-challenge content.
In 2024, Oxford University Press chose “brain rot” as its Word of the Year after its usage increased by 230% compared with 2023, reflecting growing concerns about the massive consumption of low-value online content.
Currently, there is no scientific evidence that short-form videos “damage the brain.” However, research suggests that excessive or problematic social media use may be associated with a range of other issues. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, covering 182 studies and more than 1.16 million participants, found associations between social media use and issues such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Children and adolescents are among the most engaged groups in the digital world. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 45% of adolescents describe themselves as being online almost constantly. Protecting children, therefore, is not about banning technology, but about teaching them to use it mindfully.
Families can set clear rules for device use, keep devices out of bedrooms, limit their use before bedtime, and establish daily screen-free periods, while encouraging exercise, reading, play, hobbies, and family interaction. Most importantly, parents should lead by example, as children learn more from family behavior than from instructions.
Parents should also focus not only on-screen time, but on the type of content children consume, helping them distinguish between content that adds to their knowledge and content that drains their attention.
We do not need to abandon technology, but to use it mindfully. Simple steps can help, such as disabling unnecessary notifications, setting specific times for browsing, having daily phone-free periods, and bringing back activities that require sustained attention, such as reading, learning, exercise, and hobbies.
 

During his participation in the Knowledge Summit 2025, Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro presented DNA “Data, Networks, and Access” as the three essential elements for successful knowledge markets, emphasizing that AI and robotics are not limited to automation, but also have the potential to generate knowledge, expand access to it, and enhance collaboration between humans and machines.
From robotics laboratories to the horizons of the future, Dr. Ishiguro stands out as one of the world’s leading researchers in human-machine interaction. He is Professor of Department of Systems Innovation at Osaka University and Visiting Director of Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories at ATR, where he leads ambitious research projects exploring the future of society.
Ishiguro’s research focuses on interactive robotics, androids, and avatars. His “Geminoid” project marked a significant development in the field by creating an android replica of himself. He also serves as Project Manager of the Japanese MOONSHOT R&D Project and CEO of AVITA, Inc.
Throughout his career, Ishiguro has received numerous international awards and honors, including the Osaka Cultural Award, the Prize for Science and Technology by the Japanese Minister of Education, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, the Tateisi Award, and an honorary doctorate from Aarhus University.
To watch Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro’s full session at Knowledge Summit 2025, click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiC4Zl5bN04