Sometimes, when I’ve taken a scroll on social media, I stumble on a clip that makes me realise I spent too much time on it that day. I don’t always use it to my benefit. I wonder if I were to study my attention span and retention of facts, the study would show a dip during the weeks I doom scroll.
To go against this, in the last few months, I’ve decided to use social media more to enhance my intelligence. I’ve found a few things that I’m convinced do the opposite of brain rot. I’ve deep dived, so you don’t have to.
LOOK UP!
In the past few months, I have learned more information about leap years (there’s more to it than you think), the Sun, and Auroras, including their recent frequency in which we see them. Of course, there’s only one person who could share knowledge like this with a lay person successfully: Neil deGrasse Tyson.
His videos on his YouTube channel called StarTalk, particularly the ones with his co-host Chuck, are not only educational but hilarious. These videos will help you understand more about our planet and beyond. I’d recommend you start here, but don’t forget to check out the next two recommendations first. The third isn’t for the light-hearted.
IT ALL LEADS BACK TO COLONIALISM
For many, the One 54 Podcast doesn’t need much of an introduction. Their clips on Instagram are quite insightful, but one grabbed me so much that I had to watch the episode.
The clip I saw included an interview with Boris Kodjoe, and let me honestly say, the episode is long, but don’t let that discourage you from getting involved.
During this podcast, Boris and the hosts called Akbar and Godfrey discuss a range of topics, including investments in the continent of Africa, marriage, and the contrast between racism in the USA and Germany.
Two of the most insightful moments for me were the way Boris described his experience in the USA as a Black bilingual individual (something that anyone who doesn’t ‘live’ in their first language might relate to). The second moment was listening to Boris Kodjoe’s analogy that illustrates colonialism perfectly. (I will be borrowing this.) Watching this episode helped me to enhance the level of vocabulary I could use when explaining and discussing current topics.
WAR WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?
They say ignorance is bliss, and in this case, it might be. This recommendation might help you become more intelligent, but unfortunately, it won’t be as fun as the others.
Watch or listen to Hasan Minhaj’s podcast called Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know (HMDK), in particular the episode with Annie Jacobsen.
Annie Jacobsen is an author who wrote the book called Nuclear War: A Scenario. In the episode, she discusses the research she did for the book. Her elaboration of her research helps the listener understand more about nuclear weapons.
She unwraps a topic that is normally closed to the public in a way that truly helps us understand how fragile the war system in which we live actually is. Ignorance might be bliss, but I guess there are a few things we should know.
Annie Jacobsen also gives the listener an idea of what a nuclear winter would be like, and also makes us aware of how much knowledge in regards to nuclear weapons is still hidden. Hasan Minhaj’s educational episode with Annie Jacobsen will give you chills, but it’s worth it.
LEVEL UP
There is no way I would tell you to give up a good social media scroll. But what I can tell you is what honestly started off as watching a few extra videos that didn’t fit my normal scope of history. books, and sport, I’ve noticed something: I’ve begun to understand things about the world that I normally wouldn’t have considered.
Intentionally moving a portion of my attention away from scrolling to using social media differently has helped me to focus more time on the health of my brain.
Let’s move further into a world of awareness and increased intelligence and avoid brain rot together.
Title: Worried Social Media Is Rotting Your Brain? Do this!
Author: Leonie Thomas
Date Published: 28.02.2026
Leonie Thomas 