Brain rot can be defined in many ways, with the most common definition being the deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state due to the consumption of low-quality or unchallenging content. The term is frequently used to describe the effects of overexposure to internet culture. Brain rot has changed and evolved over the years with different trends and videos, eventually leading to the creation of Italian brain rot.
Italian brain rot emerged on TikTok just recently this year. These videos showcase characters that are hybrids of animals and objects, featuring an AI-generated voice with a cartoonish Italian accent that are often given Italian-sounding names. A popular example is Tralalero Tralala, a three legged shark wearing Nike shoes. The AI voice made up of sounds and words is meant to sound Italian but isn’t actually, adding to the absurdity and making these videos a blend of odd humor and nonsensical charm. What is it about these bizarre videos that has made Italian brain rot go viral?
Many teenagers have seen or at least heard about Italian brain rot, as the videos have taken over social media platforms by storm. Even at Middleton High School, Italian brain rot is well known. Crystal Huang, a junior, has noticed these reels on social media and often sends them to her friends. Sharing videos highlights one of the ways the Italian brain rot trend has gained virality. Sophomore Brady Nelson said, “It’s really beautiful, how they mixed animals and personified them.”
Although many people shared their love for the strange trend, few seemed to know where or when it started.
“I have no idea. Just one day I saw Tralalero Tralalala and then so many other ones,” Huang said.
“No idea, probably TikTok,” sophomore Dresden Drexler said.
The murky origins of this trend only add to the question surrounding its popularity. “I think it’s really popular because it does what the internet wants,” Nelson said.
Like many other internet trends, brain rot is often absurd and nonsensical, but still funny and used as an inside joke between friends. “The world feels like it’s kind of falling apart and this nonsense content is a pretty good escape,” Nelson said.
“I’d love to know where they came from and learn more about it because it’s so mysterious. I feel like that’s why people like it too, because it’s mysterious,” Huang said. With unknown origins, many internet users have created and shared their own backstory theories on Italian brain rot. These users have crafted an entire fantastical plot, from stories of different characters dating to breaking up, all made with AI art to enhance the story. “I like to listen to the stories of the different brain rot characters. It’s like a whole world,” Huang said.
Nelson shared how brain rot is easy to hate on, gaining attention from both people who like it and those who don’t. Admittedly, Italian brain rot has received significant criticism.
“It’s just a bunch of random names,” Fletch Borman, a sophomore said. Many others also feel that the brain rot makes no sense and there’s no point for it to be so popular. However, these videos do have a creative side to them.
“I think that brain rot is the creativity in these children’s minds and we just have to let them be creative and create art,” Nelson said.
On the contrary, Borman said, “Don’t get into it, kids. Once you get in, you can’t get out. I’ve seen what it does to people.”
The allure of Italian brain rot lies in its ever expanding universe of absurd characters and their intertwining stories. From the sneaker-wearing Tralalero Tralala to the cappuccino-headed dancer Ballerina Cappuccino, each AI-generated character has its own background and stories. This collaborative storytelling transforms nonsensical memes into a shared digital world, offering viewers and creators an imaginative escape from the overwhelming nature of modern life.
