#InternetCulture

A sweeping wave of digital fatigue and internet burnout has set the tone for summer 2025, as online life feels more overwhelming and less enjoyable than ever before, pushing millions worldwide—and in Thailand—to seek solace offline. Recent essays and fresh research highlight not only a cultural turning point but a crucial mental health inflection: the internet as we knew it is over, and going outside is the new imperative for personal and collective well-being (Slate).

A new wave of rapid-fire, AI-generated memes known as “Italian brainrot” has swept onto kids’ screens worldwide, capturing Gen Alpha’s imagination and leaving many parents and educators in a state of confusion—or concern. This latest TikTok phenomenon features oddball characters such as ballerinas with espresso cup heads, crocodile-bomber hybrids, and three-legged sharks in blue sneakers. Speaking in exaggerated pseudo-Italian and chanting nonsensical phrases, these digital creations embody an internet culture that is as bizarre as it is viral, reflecting a new level of absurdist humor among younger users (ABC News, Capital FM, MARCA).