What is Italian Brain rot?
Italian brain rot is one of those memes or trends that just makes no sense. The trend began when a TikTok user named “Noxa” had created a silly AI image. The image humorously showed what would happen to someone if they didn’t wake up for Sahur. Sahur is a pre-dawn meal during Ramadan. Then later, more AI generated cartoons began appearing online. Each one had its own design and backstory.
The Trend Grows
As more and more started to join in on this trend, they started making more Italian brain rot characters. And then, a bunch of accounts started to make AI Italian Brain rot videos consisting of Tung Tung Sahur fighting Tralalero Tralala, etc. A lot of people had took interest to these types of videos and the accounts who would post them skyrocketed. Most of the videos were targeted towards the younger audience (using bright colors, fast moving images, etc.) These videos weren’t only just on TikTok, they were also on Youtube or even Youtube Shorts.
The Meme as a Business Opportunity
Italian brain rot wasn’t just a meme, it was also a marketing opportunity, many businesses had benefited from these AI cartoons. It had become a worldwide trend, people printing shirts of the brain rot, making plush keychains out of them, and more. This had made the meme become even bigger, with all of these businesses supporting and boosting it. Social media pushed the trend even further since TikTok creators and business continued to promote the meme. As more and more people began to recognize the characters, the trend stayed popular for longer than usual.
Concerns about Younger Audiences
Even though Italian brain rot may seem harmless, it has also raised concerns. Especially because it targets the younger audiences. Many of the videos use fast flashing images, loud sounds, and violent behaviors. This can make children have problems with focusing/understanding what they are watching. They can also be shown sometimes copying the violence they see in the videos and have a lot of mood swings. Especially since the videos are random and don’t have a real meaning, some people think that it doesn’t serve an educational purpose. Even though the trend was very popular, it shows how social media can change young audiences’ behaviors.
A Long Lasting Meme
Unlike most memes that disappear quickly, Italian brain rot had lasted longer because of its unique stories and business ideas. Its popularity shows how memes can be turned into business trends, and how videos online can influence how children act. However, some people may disagree and say it is a harmless and funny meme. Jayson Jones, student at Colonia High School states ” I like it and it should be brought into 2026.” Jones also states that he thinks it’s cool. Simrat Kaur, an 11th grader who also goes to Colonia High School says, “I think that it is cool, but should have an age restriction, because it is not suitable for little children.”
