One thing I absolutely love about my generation (Gen Z) is the fact that we can turn literally anything into a productivity tool, even the same apps that ruined our attention spans in the first place. A couple of days ago, I was casually procrastinating and scrolling on TikTok (yes, one of the apps that ruined my attention span) when I came across someone using a website that converts notes into TikTok “brainrot.”
Of course, it seemed like the website was made for me. So, naturally, I decided to study using it. Worst case scenario, I’d waste an hour. Best case scenario, I’d find another bizarre productivity trick to add to my growing collection.
What exactly is “TikTok Brainrot?”
Short, fast, and meaningless
Before I go any deeper, chances are you might not be entirely sure what I mean by “TikTok brainrot.” The word brainrot was named Oxford’s Word of the Year 2024, and according to the Oxford University Press, it means:
Supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.
When the word TikTok precedes it, the way the slang term is interpreted changes slightly. It refers to consuming mindless and low-effort online content (which essentially adds absolutely no value whatsoever).
The content is often so meaningless that people have started describing it as something that’s slowly rotting their brains. Brainrot content often refers to shorter, fast-paced videos that rely on overstimulation (think flashy edits, chaotic sounds, and random humor) — the kind that keeps you watching without really knowing why.
Given that brainrot content is often short, 10-second Reels or clips that deliver quick bursts of stimulation, it’s easy to see how it ties into our ever-shrinking attention spans. The constant stream of fast, unpredictable videos conditions your brain to crave instant gratification.
Though you’ll find brainrot content on any app that has a Reels or Shorts-like feed, TikTok is where it’s most commonly associated. Some of the words you’ll often find in these brainrot videos include TikTok slang I’ve mostly noticed Gen Alpha using, including phrases like “skibidi toilet,” “rizz,” “sigma,” “gyat,” and “sus.”
Raena AI converts your notes into brainrot videos
From notes to brainrot in no time
When I was scrolling on TikTok, I came across someone preparing for an exam using a brainrot video. Subway Surfers gameplay was playing in the background, with their study notes flashing in the middle. Unfortunately, the website used in the video had locked the ability to create brainrot videos behind its premium version.
So, I went on a quest to find free alternatives. After spending quite some time checking out every top result I found, I noticed that most of them limited you to just one brainrot video per month. Then, I came across an AI study tool called Raena AI, which also lets you convert notes into brainrot videos. Though it offers a paid tier, the free version lets you create two brainrot videos per week, which seemed like a pretty good deal to me.
Once you’ve created a Raena AI account and gone through the initial onboarding process, you’ll be redirected to the Home page. Upon scrolling a bit, you’ll come across a Tools section, which includes different learning tools like Game, Podcasts, Quizzes, Summaries, Flashcards, and, of course, Brainrot.
Once you hit Create Brainrot Video, you can simply add whatever you’d like to turn into a brainrot video. In my case, I was preparing for an upcoming quiz and added lecture notes my professor had provided. Other than PDFs, Raena AI also lets you add text and images on the free plan.
You can choose from four different video styles: Standard, TikTok Brainrot, Professor Pickle, and Gossip. Naturally, I chose TikTok Brainrot. On the free tier, you can choose whether you’d like the video to be Quick or Standard length.
The Quick video is between 20 to 45 seconds, while the Standard one ranges from 45 to 80 seconds. If you upgrade to the tool’s Pro tier, you can also generate an Extended video, which is over two minutes long. Once you’ve filled out all the required information, all you need to do is hit Create Brainrot and wait a few minutes.
The brainrot video actually kept me focused longer
When brainrot actually helps you focus
I’m embarrassed to even type this, but revising with the brainrot video actually worked. Full disclosure, I already knew the content beforehand, but I wanted to quickly go over it before my quiz. I typically use NotebookLM when I need to revise in a hurry, and generating a brainrot video was essentially my replacement for that this time around.
My notes flashed on top, and the narrator read them out loud in that typical TikTok voice. It referenced common slang you’ll find in TikTok brainrot videos. For instance, it began with “POV: you’re trying to to understand computers, and it is giving.” Throughout hte video, it included different brainrot terms like vibecheck, besties, no cap and skibidi.
Similar to the video I’d seen on TikTok that first introduced me to the idea of studying with brainrot, some brainrot videos I generated with Raena AI had Subway Surfers gameplay playing in the background. There’s something weirdly comforting about Subway Surfers that helps me focus. Last year, during my sixth-form exams, I found myself listening to the Subway Surfers soundtrack for hours on end while revising, and somehow, it kept me in the zone. Ironically, it even ended up becoming my top track on my 2024 Spotify Wrapped (which is why I immediately started preparing for 2025’s Wrapped).
I do wish the narration was quicker and the text would flash faster, as that’s what I’ve noticed in most brainrot videos — the overstimulation is sort of the whole point. Nonetheless, the gameplay in the background did manage to keep me focused, and I didn’t feel the urge to grab my phone or switch tabs even once.
The video included some hilarious phrases that I’ll definitely remember in my exam, like “von Neumann architecture living rent free in all computers.” I’m a huge fan of making up mnemonics and connecting real-life stuff to concepts I need to memorize, and seeing these quirky phrases pop up in the video made the revision process a lot more fun and actually helped me remember the material better.
This might be my new favorite revision method
Overall, I think it was a surprisingly effective way to revise, and I’ll definitely be using brainrot videos as a quick revision tool again in the future. I absolutely love seeing the wild ways people are using AI. It never ceases to amaze me how creative and unexpected some applications can be.