TL;DR: Your kid isn't broken, they're just speaking Gen Alpha. "Brain rot" (like Skibidi Toilet) and "AI Slop" are the new era of surrealist humor and algorithmic noise. Most of it is harmless, but the real concern is the passive consumption of low-effort content.
Quick Recommendations for "Anti-Brain Rot" Media:
- Ages 4-7: Bluey, StoryBots, and Numberblocks.
- Ages 8-12: Hilda, The Wild Robot, and Minecraft.
- Creative Outlets: Scratch and Toca Boca World.
If you’ve heard your child say "Ohio" in response to something weird, or call someone a "Sigma" for doing something cool, you’ve encountered "Brain Rot." It’s a self-deprecating term kids use for the hyper-fast, surreal, and often nonsensical meme culture found on YouTube Shorts and TikTok.
The king of this mountain is Skibidi Toilet. If you haven't seen it, it’s a series of YouTube shorts featuring heads popping out of toilets. It sounds like a fever dream because it essentially is. To adults, it looks like a waste of time. To kids, it’s an epic saga with deep lore, factions, and cliffhangers.
Why they love it: It’s fast, it’s weird, and most importantly, we don’t get it. Every generation has its version of this (think Ren & Stimpy or SpongeBob), but the speed of the internet has turned the volume up to eleven.
You might have seen a video of a kid at a basketball game shouting "6-7!" while doing a weird hand gesture (palms up, moving them like a scale). This is the "6-7" trend, and it is peak Gen Alpha.
The Origin: It comes from a rap song called "Doot Doot (6 7)" by Skrilla. It went viral when paired with basketball highlights—specifically LaMelo Ball, who happens to be 6'7".
The Meaning: Honestly? There isn't one. It’s a "vibe." Kids use it as a response to literally anything. If they see the numbers 6 and 7 in a math problem, they’ll yell it. If they’re asked how they’re doing, they might just say "6-7." It’s a social signal that says, "I'm in on the joke." It’s annoying for teachers, but it’s generally harmless.
While "Brain Rot" is usually human-made nonsense, AI Slop is something different. These are videos generated by AI or low-effort animation factories designed to hijack the YouTube algorithm.
You’ll see them as weirdly rendered versions of popular characters (like Elsa, Spider-Man, or Roblox avatars) doing repetitive, often nonsensical tasks. The colors are too bright, the music is repetitive, and the "plot" makes no sense.
Why this matters: Unlike Skibidi Toilet, which has a creator and a story, AI Slop is pure "digital candy"—all sugar, no substance, and designed to keep kids in a trance-like state of scrolling. It’s the "unwatchable" tier of media that provides zero cognitive engagement.
If you want to steer your kids toward content that actually respects their intelligence, here are a few winners.
Ages 7+ This is the literal antidote to brain rot. It’s a beautifully animated series about a girl exploring a world of Nordic folklore. It’s thoughtful, cozy, and deals with complex emotions and environmental themes without being preachy.
Ages 8+ While YouTube is full of Minecraft videos that are brain rot, the game itself remains one of the best tools for spatial reasoning and creativity. If they're going to be on a screen, building a redstone-powered castle is infinitely better than watching someone else do it. Check out our guide on making Minecraft safer for your family
Ages 8-12 If you want to pull them away from the "slop," this book (and the movie) is a masterpiece. It explores AI and nature in a way that is profoundly human. It’s a great "bridge" topic if your kids are already interested in robots and tech.
Ages 8+ Instead of consuming memes, let them make them. Scratch is a block-based coding language from MIT where kids can animate their own stories. It turns them from passive consumers into creators.
The danger isn't necessarily the content of one "6-7" video; it’s the Auto-play Rabbit Hole.
- Algorithmic Grooming: The more "brain rot" they watch, the more the algorithm pushes weirder, more extreme, or lower-quality content to keep them engaged.
- The "Cringe" Factor: Kids often stumble into "Analog Horror" (like Garten of Banban or Poppy Playtime) which looks like a kids' game but is actually designed to be jump-scary and disturbing.
- The Financial Drain: Games like Roblox often feature "limited edition" items that play on the same FOMO (fear of missing out) as viral memes.
Don't ban the slang. If you ban "Ohio" or "6-7," you just make it cooler and more "underground." Instead, try these:
- Be the "Knowledgeable Friend": Use the slang (badly). Nothing kills a meme faster than a parent saying, "That's so Sigma of you, honey."
- The "Quality" Conversation: Ask them, "What's the story here?" If they can't explain it, or if it's just a loop of bright colors, point out that the video is "slop" designed to trick their brain.
- Co-viewing: Sit down and watch five minutes of what they’re into. If it's Skibidi Toilet, ask who the "Cameraheads" are. Showing interest opens the door for you to say, "Okay, that was weird, now let's go play Catan."
Most "brain rot" is just the latest version of "kids being kids" in a digital-first world. It’s confusing, it’s loud, and it’s often deeply stupid—but so was Beavis and Butt-Head.
The goal isn't to live in a 100% "organic, wood-toy-only" household. The goal is balance. If they spend 20 minutes laughing at a nonsensical "6-7" edit, but then spend an hour building in Minecraft or reading Percy Jackson, they're going to be just fine.
- Audit the Feed: Check your kid’s YouTube history. Is it 90% "Shorts" of bright colors and screaming? It might be time to set some time limits on the YouTube app.
- Introduce a "Creator" App: Download Scratch or Stop Motion Studio and challenge them to make their own viral trend.
- Check the Community Norms: Use Screenwise to see what other parents in your grade are allowing. If everyone else is off TikTok, it’s much easier to say "no" at home.
Take the Screenwise survey to see how your family's habits compare to your community