Word of the Year

How the Word of the Year Represents Where We're Headed as a Society

Every year, Oxford selects a Word of the Year that reflects the general mood or theme of the year. This year, the word is ‘brain rot,’ and I couldn’t agree more. Lately, I’ve felt like the internet is consuming everything and everyone, so I’m not surprised that Oxford chose a word originating from internet culture.

I’m noticing a trend…

Over the last 20 years that Oxford has been doing this, I’ve noticed a clear trend.

In the 2000s, 2010s, and early 2020s, the chosen words were shaped by the economy, news cycle, global events, and technology:

2005 ➡️ Podcast

2008 ➡️ Credit Crunch

2013 ➡️ Selfie

2019 ➡️ Climate Emergency

2020 ➡️ Unprecedented

2021 ➡️ Vax

However, over last 3 years, every word has been popularized by the internet:

2022 ➡️ Goblin Mode

2023 ➡️ Rizz

2024 ➡️ Brain Rot

I think this says a lot about where we’re headed as a society, and I don’t think it’s going to slow down anytime soon.

The Internet is Taking Over Every Aspect of our Lives Lately

When I think about where we’re all spending the majority of our time, it’s no surprise that brain rot is the Word of the Year. From a watch-time perspective, platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter are all trending up and to the right. The mindshare of everyone—at least in the United States—is dominated by the internet and social media. A few months ago, I had you all take my version of the Brain Rot Quiz, and now more than ever, we’re seeing the importance of keeping up with internet lingo—including Oxford’s Word of the Year.

The Big Takeaway

Oxford just announced brain rot as their Word of the Year. Over time, the Word of the Year has shifted away from the news cycle and global events, focusing more on internet culture. I think this trend will continue as social media increasingly takes over more aspects of our lives.