Mind in the Noise: Fighting Brain Rot | Marlistya Citraningrum | TEDxJakarta
Marlistya Citraningrum better known as Citra once found herself unable to get through more than a few paragraphs without her brain staging a quiet rebellion. That moment of frustration sparked a deeper realization: the creeping plague of “brain rot” isn’t just a meme; it’s real, and it’s everywhere. In this sharp and engaging reflection, Citra unpacks how constant digital noise and the addictive pull of social media are eroding our capacity for deep thought; not just among the youth, but across all generations. It’s not just Gen Z scrolling into oblivion; it’s all of us, swiping through life and slowly trading clarity for chaos. Drawing on her own experiences as a writer, reader, and reluctant doom-scroller, Citra makes a compelling case for reclaiming our attention, reawakening our critical thinking, and resisting the slow erosion of thought in the digital age. For Marlistya Citraningrum (Citra), reading and writing are not hobbies, but rather ways to stay thinking. In addition to working in energy and climate policy, Citra actively writes for media outlets such as The Jakarta Post, The Conversation Indonesia, and Nikkei Asia, and shares reading material on social media. Her reasoning is simple: to encourage readers to think more deeply and cultivate reason as a small form of resistance in a noisy era. Amidst data, policies, and the demands of the professional world, she chooses to remain a believer in the power of stories and narratives. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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