The spread of the 2x playback button is a sign of brainrot — and I love it

"Italian brainrot" character plushes, popularized on short-form video, and now your kids can snuggle them. RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images YouTube Shorts is finally adding a 2x playback speed option. I watch almost everything sped up now — TikToks, Reels, and listen to podcasts and audiobooks sped up. Are our brains so rotted that we can't deal with normal speeds? Yes! I am a screentime maximalist. I make no apologies and feel no guilt about how much time I spend staring at my phone....