Brain Rot management with Dopamine Detox Method Using Minimalist Theme on Smartphone
This is a Response to the Brain Rot wikithon
Brain Rot is a phenomenon increasingly prevalent among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. It refers to short-form videos designed to capture viewers’ attention through flashy narratives, typically characteristic of platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and similar apps.
These “entertaining” short-form videos act as quick dopamine hits, consumed in brief durations that require neither deep cognitive effort to understand the content nor prolonged focus. Such content is often engineered to trigger instant responses through absurd humor, visual surprises, or repetitive viral catchphrases like the video “Adek, Papa dikejar telur, goreng, goreng, goreng” (“Little one, Dad is chased by eggs, fry, fry, fry”), which lacks clear context but relies on humor that demands no critical thinking. This conditions the brain to crave rapid stimulation without processing complex information.
One solution to counter this instant gratification is dopamine detox, a strategy to reduce exposure to overstimulation that triggers dopamine spikes, such as notifications, endless scrolling, or bizarre short-form humor. This can be implemented directly on devices by using features like app time limits (e.g., restricting TikTok usage to 1 hour/day, after which the app locks automatically) or Focus Mode, which hides non-essential notifications and restricts access to certain apps during designated periods.
The author proposes minimalist themes as another solution to reduce excessive visual clutter, a key driver of user engagement. For instance: - Monochromatic color schemes (e.g., grayscale mode) diminish the visual appeal of apps. - Apps like Zen Detox simplify device interfaces, prioritizing essential tools (messaging, calendars, browsers) while making social media apps less visually enticing or harder to access. - Removing app icons and displaying only app names reduces familiarity and the temptation to open social media platforms.
While these solutions are effective in curbing instant dopamine cravings, challenges remain. For example, the brain may resist sudden restrictions on its preferred content, and users might override enabled features, requiring personal commitment to reduce consumption of “brain rot” content.
Combining dopamine detox with minimalist themes not only mitigates brain rot risks but also: - Enhances focus on complex tasks. - Restores user control over content consumption. - Reduces anxiety from overstimulation.
This approach does not seek to eliminate technology but to optimize it as a tool that serves human needs. The author argues that governments or related institutions should avoid overly restrictive regulations. Instead, they should launch awareness campaigns (similar to anti-drug or anti-smoking initiatives) to highlight the negative impacts of brain rot and promote dopamine detox practices. Raising public awareness is critical to ensure brain rot is not trivialized, while fostering productive and active behaviors.
Governments should act as facilitators, ensuring technological advancement aligns with societal well-being. By minimizing brain rot’s effects and promoting responsible tech usage, they can help build a mindful digital culture where technology empowers rather than distracts.- Affiliation
- Program Studi Psikologi, Fakultas Kedokteran dan Ilmu Kesehatan, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
- Age
- 16-21
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