Brain Rot, John Pork, and Why We Can't Look Away: Inside TikTok's Weirdest Trends

Ever found yourself endlessly scrolling TikTok, watching videos that are… well, kinda pointless? Maybe you've stumbled upon memes about a pig-headed man named John Pork, or heard terms like "Skibidi" and "rizz" floating around?

Photo by Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

It sounds alarming, but what does it actually mean? And why are bizarre trends like the "John Pork investigation" so incredibly popular, especially with younger audiences? Let's dive into the weird and wonderful psychology behind it all.

What Exactly Is "Brain Rot"?

You've probably heard the term, maybe even used it jokingly. In internet slang, "brain rot" (or "brainrot") basically describes online content that feels low-quality, silly, nonsensical, or just plain trivial.Think memes that make no sense, oddly satisfying slime videos, or endless reaction clips.

The term also hints at the supposed downside of consuming too much of this stuff – the idea that it might actually make you feel mentally foggy, less focused, or even "stupider".Oxford University even named it their 2024 Word of the Year, defining it as "the supposed deterioration of a person's mental or intellectual state" from overconsuming trivial online content.

While often used with a wink by Gen Z and Gen Alpha, it taps into real concerns about how much time we spend online and what it's doing to our brains.

What does "brain rot" content look like?

It's easy: Requires almost no brainpower to watch.
It's weird: Often absurd, illogical, or surreal.
It's fast: Perfect for quick scrolls on TikTok or YouTube Shorts.
It's repetitive: Think viral sounds, memes, and challenges.
It encourages mindless scrolling: A way to kill time or zone out.
It's about engagement, not substance: Grabs attention with shock or weirdness.

Examples are everywhere: the Grimace Shake trend, "Only in Ohio" memes, the Skibidi Toilet series, and even "sludge content" (those split-screen videos with gameplay and soap cutting happening at once).

It even has its own language:

Part of the "brain rot" world is a unique slang – words like "skibidi," "rizz," "gyatt," "fanum tax," "sigma," "delulu," "NPC," "bussin'," and "pookie".Using this lingo signals you're part of the online in-crowd, but hearing it constantly offline is sometimes seen as a sign of being "chronically online".

Is this a new worry?

Not really. People have worried about media "rotting brains" for ages – from TV to newspapers, even cheap magazines back in the 1800s!Henry David Thoreau worried about declining intellectual standards back in the 1840s, comparing it to "potato rot".The term "brain rot" itself popped up online as early as 2004.What's new is the speed and scale, thanks to platforms like TikTok.

Case Study: Who is John Pork and Why Did the Internet Investigate Him?

John Pork is a perfect example of "brain rot" going mainstream. He's a virtual character – a human body with a CG pig's head – who first appeared on Instagram back in 2018, calling himself a "fashion model".

The "Calling" Meme:

John Pork blew up in early 2023 thanks to the "John Pork is calling" meme.Users would slap his face onto an iPhone call screen, creating funny or creepy little videos where it looked like this bizarre pig-man was ringing them up.He never actually spoke in these memes, but the simple, shareable format went massively viral.#JohnPork racked up hundreds of millions of views.

The "Investigation" Lore:

But it didn't stop there. Things got weirdly complicated. A whole user-generated story, or "lore," emerged around John Pork, often jokingly called the "John Pork investigation".This unfolded across countless TikToks, often using AI voices and dramatic edits.

Death Rumors: A big part of the lore was that John Pork had died. Maybe because people didn't answer his calls, or maybe he was assassinated.
Enter Tim Cheese (and others): The story expanded to include other absurd characters. Tim Cheese became a key figure, often suspected of being involved in John Pork's demise.Other names like Pengu, Simon Claw, Marvin Beak, and Agent 55 popped up, creating a tangled web of rivalries and alliances.
Wait, What's the Real Story?: The lore is full of contradictions. Is John Pork a villain or a victim?Did Tim Cheese do it, or are they friends?Maybe John Pork faked his death?Users even invented motives, like John Pork having an affair with Tim Cheese's wife.
Everyone Chipped In: This wasn't one person's story. It was built by the community through videos and comment sections, debating theories and adding details.
Self-Aware Brain Rot: People involved often tagged their videos with #brainrot, fully aware of the absurdity.

Digital Folklore:

This whole process is like modern-day folklore. Just like old tales changed with each telling, the John Pork story morphed and evolved as users remixed it on TikTok.It's a shared story built by a community online.

How Big Was It?

Huge. #JohnPork hit over 181 million TikTok views by April 2023, and related tags like #TimCheese also got millions.The main audience seemed to be Gen Z, likely with Gen Alpha joining in too.

Why Do We Get Hooked on This Stuff? The Psychology Explained

Okay, so why does content that seems so pointless or bizarre capture our attention, especially younger generations? There are a few key psychological reasons:

1. It's Funny (in a Weird Way):

A lot of internet humor now leans into the absurd, nonsensical, and surreal.John Pork fits right in.This kind of humor often works because it's unexpected or illogical, messing with our expectations (that's Incongruity Theory, if you want to get technical).

Irony is also huge.People might enjoy something because it's seen as "cringe" or low-quality.Calling it "brain rot" can be part of the joke – a self-aware nod to its trivial nature.

2. It's an Escape Hatch (and Easy on the Brain):

Let's be real: life can be stressful. Academic pressure, social drama, worrying news – it's a lot."Brain rot" content is easy to consume; it doesn't demand much mental energy.

Research suggests teens actively seek this stuff out to "turn off their brains" and escape the overwhelm.It's a mental break, a simple, low-stakes way to zone out.

The Paradox: While scrolling might feel mindless, actually following something like the John Pork lore requires tracking characters and plot twists.And getting the jokes often means understanding irony and internet slang.So, maybe it's not completely mindless, but rather a different kind of engagement – one focused on social cues and creative play rather than deep analysis. The feeling of escape might be more about stress relief than a total lack of thinking.

3. It's About Fitting In and Playing Along:

Social factors are massive:

Being Part of the Group: Knowing the latest meme, understanding the John Pork drama, or using the right slang ("rizz," "gyatt") helps young people feel like they belong to their peer group.It's a shared language that separates them from outsiders (like confused adults!).Teachers are even using terms like "Skibidi" to connect with students.
Joining the Fun: TikTok is built for participation.Features like Duets and Stitches make it easy to jump on trends, remix sounds, and add to ongoing stories like the John Pork investigation.It's not just watching; it's creating together.Using the same sounds builds a sense of community.
Going Viral: Trends spread like wildfire online (social contagion).TikTok's algorithm pushes engaging content, making things blow up fast.This is how shared jokes and experiences like John Pork spread through youth networks.

4. Our Brains Like the Rewards:

TikTok's endless feed is like a slot machine for your brain.Every swipe could bring a funny video or an update on a meme, giving you a little hit of dopamine (the brain's reward chemical).This makes scrolling feel good and keeps you coming back for more, even if the content isn't that deep.Some studies even suggest this can lead to addictive patterns and brain changes related to reward processing.

5. We Form Weird Bonds with Characters:

Even absurd characters like John Pork can become figures we feel connected to (parasocial interaction).People commenting with concern or strong opinions about the lore show an emotional investment.This is similar to how people connect with other virtual influencers.

How TikTok Fuels the Fire

TikTok isn't just where this happens; its design actively encourages it.

The All-Powerful Algorithm (FYP):

TikTok's "For You" page (FYP) is magic (or maybe just really smart code).It watches everything you do – likes, shares, comments, how long you watch a video– to figure out what you want to see next. It also looks at video details like captions and sounds.

The algorithm quickly spots videos people are engaging with (especially watch time) and pushes them out to more people, even if the creator isn't famous.This is how niche, weird stuff like John Pork can explode seemingly overnight.It also creates "sides" of TikTok (like #BookTok), feeding you more of what you like and helping communities form around specific interests, like the John Pork lore.Some argue the main goal is just keeping you on the app longer, regardless of content quality.

Short Videos Rule:

TikTok is king of the short video.While videos can be longer, the culture favors quick, under-60-second clips.This means content needs to grab you instantly.

This format is perfect for "brain rot" – quick jokes, weird visuals, no deep thinking needed.But the constant switching between videos might also make it harder to focus long-term, contributing to those attention span worries.

Made for Remixing:

Features like Duets, Stitches, trending sounds, and hashtag challenges make it super easy to join in, copy formats, and build on what others are doing.This was key for the John Pork lore, letting people easily add their own spin to the story.Shared sounds, especially, create a strong sense of community.

Putting it Together:

A smart algorithm + short videos + easy participation = an ecosystem that rewards content based on how it makes you feel. If something is funny, surprising, or makes you feel part of an inside joke, the algorithm sees the engagement and pushes it out.This creates a loop where emotionally potent, often simple content (like "brain rot") spreads like crazy.

Okay, But Is "Brain Rot" Actually Bad for Us?

This is the big question. There's a lot of talk, and some growing research, about the downsides.

Worries About Our Brains:

Experts and studies raise concerns about:

Shorter Attention Spans: Trouble focusing on things that take time, because our brains get used to constant, fast stimulation.Even users feel this happening.
Memory Problems: Difficulty remembering things, maybe because we process info superficially or distractions mess with memory storage.
Less Critical Thinking: A potential decline in analyzing info deeply or engaging with complex ideas, possibly due to preferring easy-to-digest content.
Weaker Problem-Solving: Maybe linked to relying on quick online answers instead of wrestling with tough problems.

Some neuroscientists even talk about "digital dementia" for cognitive issues linked to too much screen time, especially during development.Studies have found links between high screen time and poorer focus or academic results.

Mental Health Connections:

Beyond thinking skills, there are worries about emotional well-being:

Addiction: Those dopamine loops can lead to compulsive scrolling ("short video addiction").
Anxiety & Depression: Too much time online, especially "doomscrolling" negative news, is linked to higher anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep problems.It can just be overwhelming.
Feeling Bad About Ourselves: Seeing perfect, curated lives online can fuel social comparison and make people feel inadequate, hitting self-esteem and body image.Envy might even drive some people to use these platforms more compulsively.

What Does Brain Science Say?

Early research is finding potential links:

Brain Structure: Some studies link higher short video addiction to differences in brain areas related to reward (orbitofrontal cortex) and coordination (cerebellum).Other studies link high screen use in kids to differences in brain pathways important for language and thinking.Too much gaming (another "brain rot" activity) might be linked to changes in impulse control areas.
Brain Function: Addicted individuals might show more activity in brain networks involved in reward, emotion, decision-making, and thinking about oneself.This could reflect issues with control or too much self-comparison.
Genetics: Researchers have found genes potentially linked to brain changes seen in short video addiction, many active during adolescence, suggesting teens might be more vulnerable.

Important Caveat: Most research so far shows correlations, not definite cause-and-effect.We need more long-term studies to know if brain differences lead to addiction or if addiction changes the brain.

But Wait, There's More to the Story:

It's easy to focus on the negatives, but that misses how young people themselves see it.

They Know What They're Doing: Many teens use "brain rot" ironically.They often choose this content as a way to cope with stress or tune out the noise.
It Can Be Good: Online trends can also build community, spark creativity, help people learn, and create a sense of belonging.Even silly trends can be social glue.
They're Savvy: The fact that teens invented the term "brain rot" suggests they understand their media world pretty well and are finding ways to deal with it.

There's a gap here: adults often see danger (cognitive decline, addiction), while teens often see a tool (stress relief, social bonding).Just telling kids it's bad might not work if we don't understand why they engage with it.

How Does John Pork Compare to Other Weird Internet Stuff?

John Pork isn't alone in the world of bizarre viral trends.

Skibidi Toilet:

This YouTube series features singing toilet-heads battling camera-headed figures.Like John Pork, it's absurd, has complex lore, appeals to younger generations (especially Gen Alpha), uses short-form video, and gets called "brain rot".

Differences: Skibidi Toilet seems to have a clearer (though still weird) war narrative, while John Pork's story felt more collaboratively built around the "investigation" mystery.Skibidi might also lean more into "toilet humor."

It's All Part of Meme Culture:

Both trends fit into modern internet humor: absurd, surreal, ironic, and full of in-jokes.They're related to "shitposting" (posting low-quality stuff for laughs).The way these trends change constantly reflects how we communicate online now – fast, emotional, and repetitive, a bit like old oral storytelling traditions ("secondary orality").

Déjà Vu? Media Panics Through History:

Worries about "brain rot" sound a lot like past panics over TV, radio, or even newspapers.Every new technology seems to bring fears about harming young minds.While TikTok's algorithms might be new, the anxiety isn't.

This clash between youth culture (ironic slang, coping mechanisms) and adult concerns (cognitive decline, addiction) shows a communication gap.But maybe instead of just worrying, adults could get curious. Asking why kids use this slang or watch these videos could lead to better conversations about navigating the digital world together.

So, What's the Takeaway?

"Brain rot" and trends like the John Pork investigation aren't simple. They're a mix of psychology, technology, and culture.

This content grabs youth attention because it meets needs – for humor, easy escape, and social connection – in an online world perfectly designed to spread it. TikTok's algorithm finds what resonates emotionally and amplifies it, while features let users jump in and co-create the culture, like the John Pork lore. It's a powerful loop.

Is it harmless fun or a cognitive hazard? Probably a bit of both. The concerns about attention, critical thinking, and mental health are real and backed by some research. But it's also clear this content serves a purpose for its audience – as a coping tool, a social lubricant, or a creative outlet.

Understanding this complexity is key for everyone – parents, teachers, and even the platforms themselves. We need to acknowledge the risks and the reasons behind the engagement to have productive conversations about healthy digital habits in our very weird, very online world.