Noise, Dust, Traffic: Update on OCSA Construction
Joey Zhou & Rosie Greenwood
Any OCSA student — new or returning — had one common thought on the first day of school: “What is up with all the construction?” With the current, disheveled state of the blacktop, blocking paths to the Tower and Annex, it’s pretty hard to miss.
In 2022, OCSA announced a concept called “Students First: A Capital Campaign.” Attached to this announcement were many digitally rendered concept images of the intended new campus. A few of the features in the images include a student lounge for studying and a fence surrounding the campus.
This past spring semester, the exterior stairs were completed and made available for student usage this fall semester. Additionally, a new mural for the annex was painted and uncovered. Additional improvements are expected to be finished by early spring of 2026, leaving seven more months of construction. Many acknowledge the importance of improving the OCSA campus, with students and teachers alike approving the campus’ ideas for the beautification upgrade. However, many said that there are numerous negative aspects getting in the way of student life as well.
Emma Gelinsky (MT ‘28) mentioned how the construction “adds traffic,” as well as an “unnecessary stress of getting to class.” The root of both of these problems seem to be the lack of walkways on the current campus. There's only one walkway, roughly hallway-sized to get from 10th Street to the Annex. During passing periods, an extreme blockage rises from the lack of space to travel between the buildings. Ada Wei (VA ‘28) added how “OCSA feels less welcoming and familiar than before.” The space has been reduced from a large, open area to a closed-off region barely wide enough to accommodate more than three students walking together. These inconveniences have made tardies a more common occurrence for students.
Furthermore, some students are proposing alternative solutions, such as the separation of the stairwells. Elena Abdollahi (IM-SO ‘28) explains how there is more stair traffic because “you can’t tell who is trying to get to the stairwell and who is trying to get into a classroom.” She suggests assigning classrooms to either stairwell similar to OCSA’s policy regarding emergency situations.
In addition to that, some unspoken traditions of OCSA culture have been disregarded due to the construction. Besides stair traffic issues, lunch areas have been heavily reduced as well, with many students cramming together in the DMS quad. Lyla Han (IM-SO ‘26) describes how “usually only seniors sit near the potted trees but the underclassmen are taking up all the space because the containers are gone.”
These modifications to the campus affect the student experience, especially for many seventh graders, who are experiencing their first year on an unfinished campus and seniors who are experiencing their last year of high school in a construction zone. The inconveniences of construction have made this school year feel pretty hectic and uncertain, but the creative image of a grand and magnificent campus remains, tying our community together with resilience. The challenges are real, but so is the excitement waiting to come! By the time construction is finished, the school will not only look improved, but provide new opportunities for comfort, growth, and collaboration. The OCSA community continues persevering the difficulties with persistence, knowing the end result will be worth the wait!
One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State
Audrey Smith
California’s Proposition 50 is controversial, to put it lightly. Some argue it goes against every democratic principle that this country was built upon, while others believe it’s a drastic — albeit necessary — solution to a dire problem. But what is Prop 50 really about?
Early into President Trump’s second term, he had the lowest 100-day approval rating in the past 80 years. With midterm elections looming, the Trump Administration has been preparing to try and secure another Republican win. Among efforts to ensure a red majority, Governor Greg Abbott is attempting to redraw Texan congressional districts in order to gain five Republican seats in the House of Representatives. This is referred to as gerrymandering, or redistricting congressional districts (regions with the ability to elect a member for the House) to have a majority of voters for one political party. This is achieved by clumping together smaller sections of heavy metropolitan — often democratic-leaning — areas with large swaths of rural land which tend to lean more Republican.
Many Democratic politicians across the country have admonished Abbott’s behavior, calling it an attack on democracy. Nevertheless, Abbott has disregarded many of these critiques. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom is choosing a shift in strategy, deciding to fight fire with fire. Newsom has proposed the “Election Rigging Response Act”, or Prop 50 — a similar redistricting proposal. It is gerrymandering, but in favor of Democrats. If his proposal goes through, California will gain six Democratic seats in the House — effectively nullifying Texas’ redistricting. The main difference between the two is that Prop 50 will only go through with the support of California voters, whereas Texas can redistrict without input from Texan voters.
However, Texas and California aren’t the only states to hop onto the gerrymandering bandwagon. Indiana, Missouri and Florida have all voiced an interest in joining Texas, which if all successfully redistricted, would lead to an additional 17 Republican representatives. Similarly, Ohio, Maryland, and New York have all expressed an interest in redistricting, and if successful, could result in 27 additional seats for Democrats.
Currently, it is unclear which way these redistrictings will go. Even if used as a drastic measure, gerrymandering is a slippery slope, already spreading across the country like wildfire. Ideally, none of these states would be redistricting in the interest to boost a political party’s power. But there is little to be done to stop Texas from redistricting, and the subsequent retaliation from California and other states.
Various political scientists have voiced concerns, fearing that this gerrymandering war will only further cement the number of Republican and Democratic seats in the House. Fewer swing seats reduce representatives’ receptiveness, given the threat of losing an election compels them to listen to their voters. When representatives from a political majority feel secure, the incentive to act on behalf of their constituents — while also upholding the Legislative branch’s role in checks and balances — diminishes. If representatives feel they don’t need to listen to the district they represent due to a larger red or blue majority, then the legislative branch cedes power to the Judicial and Executive branches. At best, this war counteracts an overreach of political power, and at worst, leads to the disempowerment of the legislative branch. As citizens and eventual voters of California, it’s crucial to stay up to date on propositions that appear on our ballots — weighing the causes and effects on us as well as our broader communities.
Inflation, Subisdies, and Reform, Argentina's Presidential Transisiton
Candela Aspiazu
In the changing political landscape of the world, many new leaders have been emerging with policies to streamline tumultuous foreign affairs. Among these countries is Argentina, led by President Javier Milei since Nov. 19, 2023. His different approach to governance compared to his predecessor, Alberto Fernandez, has been a very controversial topic for the citizens of Argentina and, quite frankly, the rest of the world as well. Nevertheless, it is crucial to expose the unbiased truth about the changes occurring in Argentina and their effects on the lower class.
Compared to previous presidents, Milei has established much stricter policies centered around lowering inflation. Argentina has been experiencing extreme surges in prices for years, with it reaching a record high of 211.4 percent in 2023. Milei claims that in order for the economy to get back on track, the government must make "drastic cuts” in public expenses. These cuts primarily include funding reductions on various subsidies that have been essential resources for many. While these subsidies were helpful to many lower income citizens, they were also continuously abused by individuals who supposedly “qualified” for them just to exploit their financial benefits. These cutbacks have managed to bring inflation down the lowest it’s been in five years — putting it at a record 1.5 percent in May 2025.
Though Milei's strategy has proven effective, it has still been a shock for many other citizens. Under Milei’s administration, the prices of basic living skyrocketed; turning it into a nation where coffee goes for an average of 7905.49 Argentinian Pesos, or $5.81 US Dollars. This was extremely new for many middle class individuals used to the democratic government from previous president Alberto Fernández, who led under Kirchnerism. This social system played a big role in the difficulty of transitioning from one government to another. Under it, people of all classes receive large amounts of money from subsidies where they apply for different plans, and receive pay from the government depending on their situation. There are subsidies for nutrition, infants, scholarships, medicine and many more. This generous style of government has fueled the never-ending cycle of lower-class financial aid that grew the country's inflation.
Under new leadership, prices are the highest they have ever been. Subsidies are more limited, and offered exclusively to Argentinian citizens in much lower quantities. Milei’s tactics for managing inflation has aid-dependent Argentinians currently tight on money, but with a promise of a much brighter economic future.
Despite these drastic changes, Argentina seems to be moving on the road to recovery — from a democratic, giving government to a stricter and more expensive one. Both Alberto Fernandes and Javier Milei have their negatives and positives, but the ending product of their presidencies seem to be moving in opposite directions. The reality of the matter is that the situation is different for every person of every economic status. But which version of government leads to the best future for Argentina? With time, we’ll see.
Pulling the Plug on PBS
Asmi Aggarwal & Alyssa Kim
Wild Kratts, Arthur, Curious George, Sesame Street — sound familiar? Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) shows have shaped the way generations of students learned, laughed and grew. For many of us, they weren’t just TV shows: they were our earliest teachers and first exposure to the ABCs. However, the legacy of PBS is now at risk after federal funding cuts.
The origin of PBS dates back to the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, which established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as one of its principal funders. As a federally subsidized nonprofit, the CPB distributed grants to public broadcasters such as PBS. PBS succeeded the National Educational Television network in 1970, consolidating disparate programming into a nationwide system. Since then, it has produced more than 120 original series and distributed hundreds more — providing free, high-quality educational content that advances children’s intellectual and social development.
That legacy, though, has come under political scrutiny in past years. In recent budget debates, President Trump approved $9 billion in foreign aid cuts including $1.1 billion aimed at defunding the CPB, PBS’s primary federal backer. However, such measures were not completely unprecedented. Throughout his first term, Trump repeatedly sought to reduce allocations to public broadcasting, claiming PBS and NPR reflect liberal biases and no longer warranted taxpayer support. Congress blocked these efforts, defending public broadcasting as an essential source of educational and cultural programming.
Trump’s second-term initiatives, nevertheless, proved more decisive. With the signing of an executive order titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media” and the passage of the Rescission Act of 2025, funding from PBS was formally withdrawn. Officials framed the cuts as a strategy to curb federal spending and shift educational authority to states and private groups. On Aug. 1, the CPB announced its planned shutdown by January — effectively dismantling the system that had sustained PBS for decades.
The erosion of PBS has simultaneously created space for alternative media to shape classroom instruction, marking a profound ideological shift in American education. Recently, conservative media nonprofit PragerU has been gaining traction in schools across the country. Founded in 2009, the organization produces short videos on history, civics and culture, several of which have been approved for use in some states. Although no policy has formally positioned PragerU as a substitute for PBS, the Trump administration has consistently promoted the platform at various educational forums.
Much of its content has provoked sustained controversy among educators and scholars. One video, for example, portrays Frederick Douglass as defending the founders’ decision not to abolish slavery in the Constitution, claiming it ensured the Southern colonies’ support for the Union. Yet, the video omits his broader condemnation of slavery and the exclusion of African Americans, particularly evident in his declaration, “Our system is wonderful, and the Constitution is a glorious liberty document.” Critics argue such omissions distort his message and exemplify PragerU’s broader pattern of presenting inordinately conservative viewpoints that oversimplify complex historical realities. Produced largely by media personalities and activists rather than historians, its videos undergo no independent academic review which has raised questions about their reliability and value in the classroom.
Ultimately, for many viewers who grew up watching PBS on cable, recent developments might seem like the closure of an important childhood chapter. Nevertheless, the legacy of PBS is not being completely erased. These beloved shows are now anticipated to stream on different outlets which, with the steady support of viewers, will continue to provide programming for stations across the globe.
Meet the New Dance Directors
Sloane Adams
The world of movement and artistry in dance is constantly evolving. Over time techniques change and develop encompassing the exploration of dancers of all ages in not only technique and style, but even fashion sense as well.
This fall semester, we welcome two new School of Dance Conservatory Directors who will take part in the growing culture of OCSA’s dance conservatories and students. Now running CMD is Lauren Lim Jackson (CMD ‘03) and the new head of BCD is Paige Amicon. Both of these authentic movers have an outstanding history of dance experience and are looking forward to further blossoming the depths of dance.
Jackson graduated OCSA in the CMD conservatory in 2003, encountering a true full-circle moment upon her return. Later, she studied at Harvard University where she did not major in dance, but was a part of different student groups involving dance. After receiving her degree, she moved to New York City and proceeded to tour the world with West Side Story. Jackson shared, “It’s such a gift to come back, help shape the next generation, and bring some of that institutional memory of commercial dance, but blend it with the direction it is going now.” Additionally, Jackson wants to concentrate on self care, mentally and physically. She finds that being a dancer is sustainable when you are able to acknowledge your worth is not based around how you perform in classes or on stage. Jackson is extremely centered on getting to know her CMD students and playing a role in their growth.
Amicon, who is now the head of BCD, attended college at North Carolina School of the Arts where she focused on studying contemporary dance. Following graduation, she relocated to Los Angeles where she freelanced for about nine years. One of the most impactful opportunities for her was participating in Ate9 Dance Company led by Danielle Agami. Amicon explained, “It was so rich, full, and busy. I think it mirrors being a director and all the hats you wear administratively with curriculum, curating shows, teaching students and working with the faculty.” She hopes her students continue to stay curious and ask questions. “I am most excited to dream with BCD,” said Amicon, who is interested in how to transfer all the hard work done in class and present it on stage in new ways.
Enthusiasm is in the air as we celebrate art through these two new directors. Both are eager to support all of their students, whether they plan to dance in their future or not. Jackson and Amicon both believe that dance is not only a form of expression, but it is a way to learn how to be human. The training, discipline, adaptation, and flexibility necessary to dance are skills that can be communicable in life outside of movement. There is so much knowledge to gain and be discovered from these beautiful artists; and the journey has just begun.
Done At Last: The End of OCSA vs. SAUSD
Ellie Choi
In 2019, SAUSD sent OCSA an unexpected invoice for nearly $20 million, claiming that OCSA owed its share of special education costs for the years 2002 to 2019. OCSA responded by filing a lawsuit against SAUSD on the basis that the invoice was unlawful. OCSA President & CEO Teren Shaffer told Evolution that SAUSD’s demands contradicted “what [OCSA] believed to be a legally binding charter contract agreement."
To secure its independence from SAUSD, OCSA took steps in 2020 to move its charter authority from SAUSD to Orange County Department of Education. With a loan from Farmers & Merchants Bank, OCSA will pay the settlement amount in installments over an extended period of time.
In early 2025, a Los Angeles judge ordered OCSA to pay $16 million of SAUSD’s claim. Faced with the possibility of financial distress, the OCSA community mobilized. In the spring of 2025, thousands of OSCA students, parents, teachers and other supporters called elected officials and showed up at SAUSD board meetings to protest and provide live testimony about the profound benefits of an OCSA education and the implications for thousands of students of losing this legal dispute.
Helena Donato-Sapp (CW ‘27) started a petition-signing campaign in support of OCSA. “The thing that motivates me to speak up and advocate for OCSA is that the issue at hand – special education services – is deeply personal to me because I have four non-apparent learning disabilities,” Donato-Sapp said. “I had to speak up for the rights of all disabled students because we deserve a fair and equal education.”
Rather than pursuing a costly appeal, OCSA’s Leadership Team and Board of Trustees sought mediation with SAUSD Board members. Over the summer, the parties were finally able to reach a resolution.
“When the dispute was finally resolved, I felt a tremendous sense of relief, a weight being lifted, and optimism for the future,” Shaffer said. “This outcome enables OCSA to rebuild a sense of stability and look toward a brighter future ahead.”
Just weeks before the start of the new school year, OCSA settled its lawsuit against the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD), agreeing to pay $8.55 million, less than half of the approximately $20 million originally demanded by SAUSD back in 2019.
“Now that the lawsuit has been settled, what’s more important than the money lost is the community that came together, demonstrating how OCSA continues to inspire thousands of students annually,” Student Body President Ronit Shiroy (IM-J ‘26) said. “I was a little worried about the lawsuit and the implications it would have on OCSA’s future, yet seeing the strong support that showed out at all the OCSA v. SAUSD meetings gave me hope that it would all be okay.”
As OCSA looks ahead to its 40th anniversary next year, the school is preparing for a new five-year strategic plan. “With the SAUSD litigation behind us, we can now fully dedicate our energy and resources to what matters most – our students – and to creating the best possible environment for everyone who is part of the OCSA community,” Shaffer said.
Teacher Summer Recap
Victoria Seoah Baek
Summer 2025 was a time of café trips with friends, reading, watching newly released movies and preparing for the new school year. Over the summer, two of OCSA’s English teachers spent meaningful time with loved ones. For Courtney Harper, this summer was about finding joy in small moments. Ashley Jan spent her first summer with her toddler. As we return to the classroom, both teachers bring a refreshed energy, enhanced love for books and sincere advice for the new school year.
Courtney Harper enjoyed a peaceful and audiobook-filled summer. She has been at OCSA for a decade and teaches Lit & Comp 7, Modern Voices and Media Studies, and Yearbook. She previously taught in the live theatre industry before transitioning into a teaching career.
In previous summers, Harper has travelled to Africa and Europe, but this year was different: she found joy in cherishing simple things, such as a week-long trip with family to La Jolla. Harper spent her summer recharging: often listening to audiobooks, completing 1000 piece puzzles without looking at the picture and watching TV. Her life is rich yet simple, with easy-going pleasures, such as quality time with family, or fulfilling her love for Jurassic Park (of course, with her dog Winnie curled up beside her).
Two books that she recommends that have “a touch of magic” are “The House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune, and its sequel, “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” Other recommended novels include “The Lost World” by Michael Crichton, “The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn, “Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies” by Elizabeth Winkler, and "By Any Other Name” by Jodi Picoult.
As the school year begins again, Harper advised students to remember: “You are exactly where you need to be right now. Don't worry about what anybody else is doing.”
Ashley Jan has been at OCSA for nine years and is starting her first year back after an off-year. Jan was inspired to teach by a strong legacy of English teachers who encouraged her to foster a love for reading and writing: “I grew to really enjoy helping people find their voices as writers and I felt like I could see myself doing that for a long time.”
This past summer was the first summer she spent as a mom. She enjoyed “getting to see summer through her [daughter’s] eyes.” Her summer was full of library story-times, park trips and watching her daughter splash around at a water table.
Similar to many teachers, Jan found herself reading a lot of texts related to her teaching curriculum, but after COVID, she started to read for enjoyment again. Her book list for Summer 2025 include East of Eden by John Steinbeck and the Emily Wilde series, which she described as “a textbook for fairies.”
Jan’s advice for the new school year is “don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for support. I don't see a student stopping by during Office Hours as a weakness, but I actually see it as a strength. Being able to ask for help when you need it makes for a successful student.”
Cautions for Content Creators
Kimura Carlsten
Everyone I know wants to be an influencer. Sure, it’s a fun job that comes with the perks of brand deals and fame, but what about the side of teen influencers that no one talks about? It’s surely not all fun and games
Ashley Barnes joined TikTok at the age of 14. Her account seemingly blew up overnight, amassing over 3.5 million followers. During her time on the internet, she’s always been honest about her mental health, and she’s talked openly about how her ongoing legal battles and depression have affected her. Her platform and videos have given her audience – even the most secluded – a home and a deeper connection to Barnes's life.
Barnes’ follower count kept growing until her downfall came this August. At one of the Los Angeles parties that she is famous for, many teens made claims on social media of Barnes pressuring her attendees to drink alcohol, consume THC gummies, and partake in sexual activities. To conclude this night, allegations formed that Barnes encouraged someone to cheat on his girlfriend of four months.
After these accusational videos were posted, Barnes stayed silent; her account was inactive. Rumors spiraled, and the internet took matters into its own hands. At first, the attacks on her were virtual, only losing millions of followers; however, as time went on, it took a turn for the worse. People started going out of their way to film Barnes whenever they saw her in public. Not only that, she was doxxed on multiple occasions. These inexcusable allegations have now caused major controversy because, while she might have been responsible for these actions, this shouldn’t hurt her in real life.
In an apology video posted by Barnes, she claims that after the incident, she was sent to rehab for substance abuse issues. She stated that social media had consumed her life. Once money got involved, it didn’t matter what she wanted to do. All that mattered to her and the people around her was the next video she needed to produce.
Exploitation is a big problem in the realm of influencers. Just like with Barnes, social media takes over these teens’ lives. One teen influencer, Piper Rockelle, grew up being a child star, and her entire life has been documented.
Now, Piper has moved her brand onto TikTok with more than 17 million followers. A popular TikTok account showcasing a group of adult content creators has recently been under fire for exploitative activities with Rockelle. Back in January, Rockelle and this content house collabed, even though Rockelle was only 17 years old. In some videos, she wore revealing clothing that contributed to the public’s opinion that this situation is a case of exploitation. It’s obviously not legal for a minor to post any explicit content, but they constantly threw hints about it. This pushes the limits of child safety on the internet. Often, when social media influence is incentivized with money, people forget there’s a human in front of the camera.
These are only a couple of many examples of the dangers social media can bring. Social media pushes into personal lives, making it almost impossible to remain sane. Still, do you want to be an influencer?
Symbolism of Superman
Sophie Sukendro
James Gunn’s “Superman,” released July 11, has become one of the year’s most controversial films. Branded “SuperWoke” by critics and the target of boycotts across political lines, the movie has reignited debates about immigration, cultural identity and foreign policy. While Gunn has repeatedly emphasized that the film is fictional, public backlash reflects broader tensions in society, particularly around immigration and world conflicts.
At the center of the debate is Superman’s identity as an immigrant. Gunn described the character as “the story of America,” noting Superman’s identity as an immigrant and that his narrative emphasizes “basic human kindness.” This framing connects to Superman’s origins in 1938, when Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created him as a figure of hope during rising fascism in Europe. Yet critics argue that highlighting Superman’s immigrant background subjects a classic American icon to the “liberal agenda.”
“We don’t go to the movie theater to be lectured to, and to have somebody throw their ideology onto us,” said Kellyanne Conway, President Donald Trump’s former senior adviser. Trump’s official social media posted an edited film poster featuring Trump’s face on Superman’s body captioned, “The Symbol of Hope. Truth. Justice. The American Way. #Superman Trump.” Some fans have gone further, threatening to boycott the franchise, citing Hollywood’s history of perceived liberalism.
The plot added another layer of controversy. Superman confronts Lex Luthor, a billionaire arms dealer backing Boravia, a powerful nation invading smaller Jarhanpur. Boravia is supported by the United States government, criticizing the U.S.’s complicity in foreign interventions. Some audiences instinctively drew comparisons to the Russia–Ukraine conflict and the Israel–Palestine conflict, though the latter was a more prominent theory.
However, Gunn denied that the film was meant as commentary on the Middle East, stating, “When I wrote this the Middle Eastern conflict wasn’t happening. It really is fictional." He explained that the intent was to portray a despotic nation invading a weaker one, not to allude to current global conflicts. Despite this, some viewers still find the parallels uncomfortably pointed.
Feeling indicted by fiction doesn’t prove the film’s bias so much as it reflects our own awareness of real-world inequalities. To take offense at the allegory and its theoretical parallels is to acknowledge, consciously or not, that the storyline resonates with reality. It exposes our own unconscious recognition of power dynamics and wrongdoing. Film, like any art form, has always been subjective. So when a story provokes anger or offense, it’s not the story speaking, it’s our conscience.
Superman has always been political, from his 1938 debut as a champion against fascism to his modern-day interpretations. The fact that he continues to provoke controversy nearly 90 years later demonstrates the enduring weight of his cultural symbolism. The broader takeaway is how fractured our cultural landscape has become. The film may not have been written as commentary, but the way audiences reacted is a commentary on society itself. Superhero movies have always revolved around power struggles: control-hungry villains, weaker forces who resist, and heroes who fight to restore balance. For decades, audiences accepted these plots as symbolic—a classic superhero plot. Today, those same plots are quickly linked to real world conflicts. This shift reflects both a heightened political consciousness and a level of polarization that makes even fiction a source of division.
To Skibidi or not to Skibidi?
Charlie Patmon
If I were to list every “brain rot” phrase or meme trending as of the last six months in this article, this publication would resemble a novel more than a newspaper. “Brain rot,” Oxford University Press’ 2024 Word or Phrase of the Year, is described as the consumption of low-quality, insignificant content, targeted particularly towards the youngest generation, resulting in a decline in critical-thinking skills, or the rotting of the brain.
“Brain rot” has become somewhat of a language, creating a buzz among the youth, leaving the adults stunned and confused. It is a rat-race of stimulant consumption, as all rush to learn and abuse the new phrases, sounds and words until we’re tired of them. To the average viewer, it may seem to resemble the linguistic tendencies of the youth that have occurred since the beginning of time – the “bees knees” in the ‘20s, the ‘60s “far out,” or “fly” in the ‘90s and 2000s. But could there be more to the cacophony of lingo than we know? What, if anything, does “brain rot” really mean for our modern society around the world?
To find out, we must start from the beginning. You might be surprised to learn that the term “brain rot” far predates the mobile phone or social media era. It actually first appears in essayist Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 book “Walden,” where he describes “brain rot” to be society’s backwards slide to oversimplification and mindlessness over enrichment. With this idea of “brain rot”, Thoreau’s proposed solution to stop society’s regression from intellectualism could be as simple as awareness, and to strive to employ more intellectual effort. So, is that all there is to “brain rot”, merely the presence or absence of thought?
Maybe so. But what makes this generation’s vernacular distinctly unique is the rapidly increasing accessibility to social media by some of society’s youngest members, specifically Gen Alpha. The spread of information, trends and language is moving at a speed no generation before has ever imagined. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 51 percent of children aged zero to eight years old have their own device (tablet or cellphone)—a staggering and ever-increasing figure. Now, more than ever, “brain rot” can spread and gain popularity amongst the youth faster than older generations can process it. Without much significance behind the phrases and gestures, it can be more easily acquired on social media in a short period of time and leave older generations even more confused.
So what? We know that “brain rot” is gaining popularity like no generation has seen before, spreading more rapidly than we’re able to comprehend. Could it be that it’s the symptom of our society, functioning with exponentially decreasing cognitive capabilities as we descend into the descent into cognitive decay that Thoreau suggests? Or is it just another wave of youthful jargon that comes and goes out of style with the seasons? It’s hard to say. What we do know is that this global phenomenon has become a defining feature of today’s generation and has certainly garnered enough cultural significance to last the test of time—or at least 6–7 days.