ADVERTISEMENT

After almost 30 years (counting from the viral dancing baby) of people living, thinking, breathing, and speaking in memes, experts and even Internet users themselves are starting to see the effect it has on us. It turns out that meme culture is rotting our brains. At least that’s what kids these days are calling it. ‘Brain rot’ is the result of over-relying on memes and information on the Internet, to the point where we can’t think about anything else than memes or cultural phenomena and constantly reference them in our day-to-day conversations. This makes us less inclined to be creative and solve problems on our own, essentially making our minds decay.  

However, there’s no need to panic and give up your daily dose of memes just yet. We might have found a way around it. To keep your last brain cells alive and functioning, we present you with a list of intellectual memes from the Instagram page “not.not.reading” that are guaranteed to make you think beyond the surface. Scroll down to find them, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that made you contemplate the most.

While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with Jean M. Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future, and media psychologist Dr. Corey Emanuel, who kindly agreed to provide a few tips on how to preserve our brains while consuming social media.

#1

Funny-Intellectual-Memes

not.not.reading Report

Rae Reyn
Community Member
1 year ago

As someone who makes digital art, F**k AI

View more comments
RELATED:
    #2

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Melissa Harris
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This probably the biggest thing you learn as a history major.

    View more comments
    #3

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Norm Gilmore
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Would it be too petty to post this picture every time some pedant points this out?

    View more comments
    #4

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    sadafwani Report

    Kalikima
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago

    Same!

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Beau Weill
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    The better part this is that 4 year olds and Backstreet Boys overlap so much

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    e gads
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I did school wrong.

    View more comments
    #7

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Mimi M
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Rorschach and Oedipal theories... Man, the junk 'science' that was once given so much credence.

    View more comments
    #8

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    yeetgenstein Report

    Brittania Kelli
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Porch pirates stole an Amazon package off my doorstep. It was cat litter. The next day the open box with cat litter was placed back on my doorstep. Guess my order didn't live up to their expectations.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Jennifer Smith
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I would probably get the demon that flunked Latin

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    BatPhace
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I got 99 problems and money would solve all 99 of them, including the one about needing therapy

    View more comments
    #11

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Brenda Spagnola-Wilson
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    But it's true

    View more comments
    #12

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Christopher Crockett
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I wouldn't know. My therapist usually gets the lion's share of mine.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Mariele Scherzinger
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Aldous Huxley.

    View more comments
    #14

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Mimi M
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Ahhh - love this! My dark humor spot is getting tickled more than once in this post!

    View more comments
    #15

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Mrx Mrx
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Has he examined his life?

    View more comments

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I will not quilt get Iver this.. bd1dd21e54...4def0f.jpg bd1dd21e548b52516e3c7813a84def0f.jpg

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    David
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    No degree reveal party? /j

    View more comments
    #18

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Lesbitarian Lady
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago

    True multitasking

    View more comments
    #19

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Mimi M
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited)

    I recently met and spoke with a philosophy major who was stressed out about wanting to help his parents, who had scraped and saved to help him pay for school. I told him to quickly get another major and make philosophy his minor - or double-major. Get something that he was good at, paid well and he could stand doing. He left the convo looking much relieved.

    View more comments
    #20

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Red PANda (she/they/he/ze)
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I feel like the 90% of my brain activates only in the shower and at like 1am

    View more comments
    #21

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Jaya
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    And cleaning out the vacuum cleaner, makes you the vacuum cleaner.

    View more comments
    #22

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Khavrinen
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I don't discriminate. People of ANY age can ruin my day!

    View more comments
    #23

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Ariom Dahl
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    That's my book shelf! :)

    View more comments
    #24

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    _drip_drip_ Report

    chi-wei shen
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    My favourite Kafka quote: "One idiot is one idiot, two idiots are two idiots, ten thousand idiots are a political party."

    View more comments
    #25

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Something I've noticed. The bigger the "business ethics" book is, the more unethical the business is. So a business without an "ethics" book is a joy to behold.

    View more comments
    #26

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    UnpopularPanda
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This is next level but I actually hate sound and would rather read subtitles than listen to movies, I've watched I don't how many shows on mute. Sometimes I start reading comments on posts and can't relate to them only to then realize that the comments relate to something 'said' in the reel that had no subtitles

    View more comments
    #27

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    FredTaming Report

    Sahitya Madhavan
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    One poor snake is missing a shower cap.

    View more comments
    #28

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Brenda Spagnola-Wilson
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Because studying philosophy makes you crazy

    View more comments
    #29

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    David
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    That looks more like a manuscribble.

    View more comments
    #30

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    G
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Why not both ? 😁

    View more comments
    #31

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    That is a startlingly accurate summary of the history of philosophy.

    View more comments
    #32

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Alex Ian
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Makes sense... you're familiar with a plethora of options on the music library but no one knows f* all about what jobs will be useful in 10 years.

    View more comments
    #33

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Vacation, or Christmas time off.

    View more comments
    #34

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Endcensorship
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This is not a comment

    View more comments
    #35

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Jaya
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Legend has it that this poor dude is still wondering what philosophy is.

    View more comments
    #36

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Manana Man
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Thesis, antithesis, and above we have synthesis.

    View more comments
    #37

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Broad Panda
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Alex looks uncannily like Kirk Van Houten's "Dignity"

    View more comments
    #38

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    e gads
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Honk.

    View more comments
    #39

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Dargallo
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    All you need is a spork

    View more comments
    #40

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Owen
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago

    Same. Plus I'm c**p at typing on my phone.

    View more comments
    #41

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    LuLuBelle
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Hmmm. I need to see if I can order Swedish Fish Oreos for my little store.

    View more comments
    #42

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Barry
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Narrator: they made it much worse

    View more comments
    #43

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Stannous Flouride
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    A friend of mine has a wine bottle holding up a shelf in her kitchen labeled, "This bottle in structural. Do NOT remove."

    View more comments
    #44

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Christopher Crockett
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Either that or perhaps the cat missed the carpet when coughing up a brain.

    View more comments
    #45

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    Unemployedneg Report

    Christopher Crockett
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I prefer Léon Foucault. Pendulums are much easier for me to understand, and much more fun to watch.

    View more comments
    #46

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    e gads
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I can relate.

    View more comments
    #47

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Marja Berisa
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Philosophy brings us such joy!

    View more comments
    #48

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Panda McPandaface
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Well that's a bit rude! I prefer 'gay'.

    View more comments
    #49

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Philosophy isn't a question of truth, it's a question of more questions

    View more comments
    #50

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    CanadianDimes
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I read a peer reviewed academic paper recently in which one of the citations was (remember to cite) (or words to that effect). It got all the way through the whole reviewing process and no one noticed!

    View more comments
    #51

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Lene
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Ooooh darnit! I feel so seen! 🤘🤓

    View more comments
    #52

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Theater nerd
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Literally any philosopher

    View more comments
    #53

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Barry
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I read once that that's a mistranslation. He supposedly really said desire is the root of all disappointment.

    View more comments
    #54

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Dumb teenager
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    And then there’s the people seeing this who are now thinking about thinking about thinking

    View more comments
    #55

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    e gads
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Guess who has two thumbs and ordered one?This Guy!!

    View more comments
    #56

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Tom Nagel
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited)

    40oz of old English in a wine glass. Super classy right there

    View more comments
    #57

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Mrx Mrx
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Except for Nietzsche... He has the best punctuations - - -

    #58

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Steve Robert
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    And my mother left two months before I was born.

    View more comments
    #59

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    giku T
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    kakfa.

    #60

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Owen
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago

    Noam Chomsky is fascinating, and one of my heroes.

    View more comments
    #61

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    UKGrandad
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    That book and the Bible have something in common. The majority of people who own a copy haven't read it.

    View more comments
    #62

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Alex Kennedy
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    This is the most important one!

    View more comments
    #63

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Lene
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I sometimes make it a challenge for me to read some of the pdfs I dl. Then I practise my note-taking while reading them and I delete them after reading. I still have copies on my laptop, so it's not completely gone. But! I am slowly building a notebook filled with the best info from these pdfs and that is so exciting!!!

    #64

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    #65

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Margot Plummer
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Why is this picture happening in the first place?

    View more comments
    #66

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Christopher Crockett
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Can you explain this gap in your resume? I was unemployed. Duh.

    View more comments
    #67

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    LittleTeapot
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Why 24-hour time AND “:” with am/pm?? This is just unsettling.

    View more comments
    #68

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    BrunoVI
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    So.... philosophy faculty?

    View more comments
    #69

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Owen
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago (edited)

    I have quite a collection of fantastic books. And about a third I haven't read. 🤫

    #70

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    e gads
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    One of you intellectuals please explain what ODB and Camus have in common cuz im having no luck

    View more comments
    #71

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Owen
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 year ago

    Some scientists actually tried this experiment. The monkeys typed a load of unintelligible c**p, and then broke the typewriters. Although to be fair, there wasn't an infinite amount of monkeys or typewriters.

    View more comments
    #72

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    e gads
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Whats the answer?asking for a friend.

    View more comments
    #73

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Poppy
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Upvote for Naruto

    #74

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    #75

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    keyboardtek
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    And then life makes it worse by making the side of the mounts icey.

    #76

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Norm Gilmore
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    Monty Pythons, Philosophers song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9SqQNgDrgg

    View more comments
    #77

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report

    Sheena Leversedge Wood
    Community Member
    1 year ago

    I had one very similar to that MANY years ago.

    View more comments
    #78

    Funny-Intellectual-Memes

    not.not.reading Report