Why “AI Slop” Is Eating Our Time, and What We Could Be Doing Instead

I was scrolling through my phone this morning when I came across a Channel News Asia Big Read piece: “Why ‘AI slop’ is taking over the internet, and what it’s doing to our brains” 

you can read it here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/big-read/ai-slop-brain-rot-taking-over-internet-5342741

At first, I skimmed it, half amused. The article describes bizarre, surreal AI-generated videos: strange creatures, oddly narrated scenes, cartoon dogs in mermaid costumes, all that chaotic stuff popping up on YouTube, TikTok, and everywhere else.

Then something hit me. It’s not just weird, it’s also sad, in a quiet way. Because while we (especially kids) laugh, share, and get sucked into that kind of content, something subtle is slipping away: attention, curiosity, our ability to care about what’s real. 

The article points out that lots of this stuff isn’t made to teach or build anything; it’s made to trap your eyes and thumbs, to get clicks. For adults, maybe it’s just a distraction. 

For children and teens, whose brains are still growing, it could mean losing bits of their ability to think critically, to notice what matters, or to find satisfaction in doing something meaningful instead of watching the next bizarre remix.

I started thinking: what if, instead of spending another hour glued to these AI-slop videos, we chose something a little more real? Not heavy or serious, just meaningful. Something that builds rather than wastes. 

Maybe talking with your kids about what they saw, asking them why it caught their attention, or showing them what it means to care deeply about something outside the feed. 

Maybe it’s carving out time together to learn a skill that helps others, something like first aid, or being the kind of person who steps in when someone needs help. Because caring isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about being useful, about being able to act.

I believe in a balance. Laughter and surreal memes have their place. But I also believe there’s power in slowing down. In choosing moments that remind us what’s real, what matters. Maybe this weekend, instead of letting the algorithm decide what your kids watch, you decide together an activity: reading together, helping someone, learning something that lasts.

Because at the end of the day, what’s more satisfying: watching a dog in a mermaid costume or knowing you know what to do when someone needs help? What if the weird videos lost their hold the moment we started choosing a purpose?