In a recent clip, Twitch and TikTok creator Bonniebonkers had some choice words for the ‘brainrot’ content spiralling out of control. In particular, she spoke on how such content is actively harming how young viewers behave and interact with others.
The term ‘brainrot’ has become shorthand for content that viewers consider unchallenging and repetitive. It’s mostly applied to the wave of AI slop that’s taken over sites like YouTube and other platforms, as well as more loosely to nonsensical meme content.
However, Bonniebonkers’ concerns hit more towards a different kind of brainrot, instead discussing the mindless social chaos created by IRL Kick streams. She calls the worst of these creators “bottom of the barrel, evil f*cking people,” and brings up how much “illegal shit happens on Kick.”
Examples of this problem aren’t hard to find, with another Kick car crash stream happening just recently. That’s without discussing the IRL streams of figures like Jack Doherty or Sam Pepper, which frequently involve antisocial behavior. This is then replicated in real life by their young fans, who view harassment as a funny meme and grow apathetic towards their fellow humans.
Sites like Twitch also aren’t exempt from this sort of content. Not only does it have just as much IRL content involving harassment of the public, but streamers like Nina Lin that admit to crimes or heavy misconduct on camera, and face little to no consequence from the platform.
Where modern brainrot evolved from
This repetitive content, based in antisocial behavior and couched in ironic detachment, is no new phenomena. In the late 2000s, stream trolls were rife in the much wilder digital space. The 2010s then saw the bugbear of prank channels rise (which included the channel of now-Kick streamer Sam Pepper), before ex-Vine stars became more-or-less the prelude to what Kick streamers would become, with Logan Paul’s Japan stunts being highly notable in this regard.
While many viewers have classed Bonniebonker’s clip among pearl-clutching tirades, many others wholeheartedly agree with her sentiments on the matter of harassment content.
