Latest news with #Eskin
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
What parents should know about the viral 'Italian brainrot' trend taking over kids' screens
Scroll through a tween's TikTok feed these days, and you're likely to stumble across a surreal parade of AI-generated creatures: a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head, a crocodile fused with a bomber plane or a three-legged shark in sneakers. They speak in exaggerated Italian-American accents, shout nonsensical phrases and disappear as quickly as they appear, only to be remixed and reuploaded in endless variations. This is known as "Italian brainrot." Where did it come from? Fabian Mosele, an Italian animator and teacher based in Germany, told "Good Morning America" the trend began in early 2024, when a TikTok nursery rhyme called "Trallallero Trallallà" was paired with an AI-generated shark wearing sneakers. From there, more characters emerged, each more absurd than the last. The trend originated within Italian meme communities but quickly expanded to a global audience, fueled by its accessibility, absurdity and DIY ethos, according to Mosele, who also runs an Italian brainrot account on Instagram. "Italian brainrot is the latest in dank memes that relies heavily on nonsense and the surprise factor," Mosele said. "Gen Z and Gen Alpha humor tends to be absurdist. The joke is that there is no joke, it's just weird." The "Italian" label, he explained, came from the early adopters, but the content is now highly international. As for the "brainrot" part, that term has become internet shorthand for content so overstimulating, surreal or ridiculous that it essentially melts your brain, intentionally. It was even named Oxford's 2024 Word of the Year, Mosele explained. Why kids are obsessed Mosele said he believes the appeal of Italian brainrot is multifaceted. "Italian is a funny-sounding language. It uses nonsense humor and nursery rhymes, which are easy to mimic. And because it's AI-native, kids can create and share their own versions with free tools," he explained. "For kids specifically, it's a sort of secret language that parents don't understand, which makes it way cooler." It also scratches a familiar adolescent itch: rebellion. "It feels punk," Mosele said. "It's internet folklore -- a grassroots, participatory universe that big studios have no control over." Licensed marriage and family therapist Cheryl Eskin agreed. "Italian brainrot is digital cotton candy for the brain," Eskin, senior director of Didi Hirsch's Teen Line, a mental health and support organization, told "GMA." "It's chaotic, fast, funny, and completely unfiltered. It scratches a developmental itch for tweens and teens, whose brains are wired for novelty and risk-taking." In other words, it's no surprise that kids are drawn to it. But Eskin warned that the pace and intensity of this kind of content can be overstimulating. "If this type of content is all they're consuming, we might start to see more trouble with attention, mood swings or difficulty winding down," she said. Should parents be concerned? Not necessarily, but it's worth paying attention to how much time your child spends immersed in the brainrot universe, according to Eskin. "While it might look like nonsense to us, it's often a creative outlet for kids," Eskin explained. "It's play, rebellion, and identity-building all rolled into a surreal meme. But if your kid can't focus in class or gets agitated without constant stimulation, that's a cue that it's time to intervene." The meme universe's participatory nature means it isn't just passively consumed, it's actively reimagined. Kids may imitate the voices, invent new characters, or incorporate phrases into everyday conversation. That can make it even more difficult for parents to understand where the boundaries are. Eskin encouraged parents to stay connected rather than critical. "You don't have to 'get' every meme to be a good parent, but you do have to stay curious," she said. "Ask your kid what they love about the content, and listen without judgment. That connection is your superpower." She suggested setting boundaries around screen time and overstimulation, but not creativity. "It's about helping them build emotional regulation in a world that's moving at warp speed," she said. "You can both laugh at the chaos and still say, 'Hey, we need to give your brain a break.'" Mosele also sees the trend as more than just mindless content. "It's a rejection of big studio franchises and their IPs through a Dadaist lens," he said. "It's funny because it doesn't make sense." Ultimately, Italian brainrot may not be much different from the internet trends that came before it, just louder, faster and built on AI. It's chaotic by design, which is exactly why kids love it. But as with any viral content, balance is key. The best approach for parents? According to Eskin, don't panic, don't dismiss it and definitely don't try to repeat the phrases out loud. Just stay present, stay curious, and remind your kid (gently) that their brain might need a break from time to time.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What parents should know about the viral 'Italian brainrot' trend taking over kids' screens
Scroll through a tween's TikTok feed these days, and you're likely to stumble across a surreal parade of AI-generated creatures: a ballerina with a cappuccino for a head, a crocodile fused with a bomber plane or a three-legged shark in sneakers. They speak in exaggerated Italian-American accents, shout nonsensical phrases and disappear as quickly as they appear, only to be remixed and reuploaded in endless variations. This is known as "Italian brainrot." Fabian Mosele, an Italian animator and teacher based in Germany, told "Good Morning America" the trend began in early 2024, when a TikTok nursery rhyme called "Trallallero Trallallà" was paired with an AI-generated shark wearing sneakers. From there, more characters emerged, each more absurd than the last. The trend originated within Italian meme communities but quickly expanded to a global audience, fueled by its accessibility, absurdity and DIY ethos, according to Mosele, who also runs an Italian brainrot account on Instagram. "Italian brainrot is the latest in dank memes that relies heavily on nonsense and the surprise factor," Mosele said. "Gen Z and Gen Alpha humor tends to be absurdist. The joke is that there is no joke, it's just weird." The "Italian" label, he explained, came from the early adopters, but the content is now highly international. As for the "brainrot" part, that term has become internet shorthand for content so overstimulating, surreal or ridiculous that it essentially melts your brain, intentionally. It was even named Oxford's 2024 Word of the Year, Mosele explained. Mosele said he believes the appeal of Italian brainrot is multifaceted. "Italian is a funny-sounding language. It uses nonsense humor and nursery rhymes, which are easy to mimic. And because it's AI-native, kids can create and share their own versions with free tools," he explained. "For kids specifically, it's a sort of secret language that parents don't understand, which makes it way cooler." It also scratches a familiar adolescent itch: rebellion. "It feels punk," Mosele said. "It's internet folklore -- a grassroots, participatory universe that big studios have no control over." Licensed marriage and family therapist Cheryl Eskin agreed. "Italian brainrot is digital cotton candy for the brain," Eskin, senior director of Didi Hirsch's Teen Line, a mental health and support organization, told "GMA." "It's chaotic, fast, funny, and completely unfiltered. It scratches a developmental itch for tweens and teens, whose brains are wired for novelty and risk-taking." In other words, it's no surprise that kids are drawn to it. But Eskin warned that the pace and intensity of this kind of content can be overstimulating. "If this type of content is all they're consuming, we might start to see more trouble with attention, mood swings or difficulty winding down," she said. Not necessarily, but it's worth paying attention to how much time your child spends immersed in the brainrot universe, according to Eskin. "While it might look like nonsense to us, it's often a creative outlet for kids," Eskin explained. "It's play, rebellion, and identity-building all rolled into a surreal meme. But if your kid can't focus in class or gets agitated without constant stimulation, that's a cue that it's time to intervene." The meme universe's participatory nature means it isn't just passively consumed, it's actively reimagined. Kids may imitate the voices, invent new characters, or incorporate phrases into everyday conversation. That can make it even more difficult for parents to understand where the boundaries are. Eskin encouraged parents to stay connected rather than critical. "You don't have to 'get' every meme to be a good parent, but you do have to stay curious," she said. "Ask your kid what they love about the content, and listen without judgment. That connection is your superpower." She suggested setting boundaries around screen time and overstimulation, but not creativity. "It's about helping them build emotional regulation in a world that's moving at warp speed," she said. "You can both laugh at the chaos and still say, 'Hey, we need to give your brain a break.'" Mosele also sees the trend as more than just mindless content. "It's a rejection of big studio franchises and their IPs through a Dadaist lens," he said. "It's funny because it doesn't make sense." Ultimately, Italian brainrot may not be much different from the internet trends that came before it, just louder, faster and built on AI. It's chaotic by design, which is exactly why kids love it. But as with any viral content, balance is key. The best approach for parents? According to Eskin, don't panic, don't dismiss it and definitely don't try to repeat the phrases out loud. Just stay present, stay curious, and remind your kid (gently) that their brain might need a break from time to time. "Good Morning America" reached out to TikTok for comment. What parents should know about the viral 'Italian brainrot' trend taking over kids' screens originally appeared on
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
There are a lot of reasons to wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them. But how bad is it if you forget?
You've just gotten home from the grocery store with some fresh strawberries. You set them down in the kitchen and walk away for a moment, only to come back and find your kids have already started eating the berries — without washing them first. Suddenly, headlines about E. coli and salmonella pop into your head. Are they doomed to get sick? Just how bad is it to skip washing your produce? And do you really need to wash all fruits and veggies? Here's what experts say about why we make such a big deal about washing produce — and the best ways to do it. Ideally, yes. 'As long as you're using potable (drinkable) water, it's always wise to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them,' Sandra Eskin, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness, tells Yahoo Life. 'Even if they appear clean, they may still carry dirt, bacteria or residues.' Melissa Vaccaro, senior food safety program specialist for the National Environmental Health Association, adds that unless your produce is packaged with a pre-washed label, the assumption is that the consumer should wash it. "This would apply to all produce, even if you are not eating the peel or rind,' she tells Yahoo Life. The only exception to this? Bananas. That's because you can usually peel a banana without really touching the inside. But for most other produce, the act of peeling or cutting can cause contamination in the edible parts. For example, Eskin points to a case in which cantaloupes were linked to a salmonella outbreak when bacteria from the soil contaminated the rind. Experts agree that while a couple bites of unwashed fruit probably won't make you sick every time, it does increase your odds of ingesting microorganisms that can make you seriously ill. 'These can range from Staphylococcus aureus [staph], which is ubiquitous, to E. coli from poor farming practices,' says food scientist Bryan Quoc Le. 'Natural dirt and debris increase these risks because they harbor microbes much more than just the surfaces of foods." According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of all food-borne illnesses can be attributed to produce, with leafy vegetables the biggest culprit. Additionally, about 46% of those illnesses were caused by norovirus. Vaccaro says additional pathogens associated with produce outbreaks include Listeria monocytogenes, cyclospora, the hepatitis A virus and campylobacter. Eskin says sprouts, in particular, pose a higher risk for bacteria like salmonella and E. coli. While washing helps, she says the safest way to consume them is by cooking them thoroughly. 'These findings do not mean that you should not eat produce but instead confirm that we must take care with handling and consuming our produce,' adds Vaccaro. Vaccaro says that produce grown in the U.S. is considered safer than some imports due to stricter regulations, better enforcement and more frequent testing. She points to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 annual summary report of their Pesticide Data Program, which revealed that over 99% of samples tested had residues below the tolerances established by the EPA, with 38.8% having no detectable residue. "Pesticide residues are certainly a concern, but less so since almost all produce is given a preliminary wash after harvest to remove the majority of dirt and debris," Quoc Le says. But that doesn't mean you won't be ingesting some residue now and again, including from imported produce. Concerned consumers can opt to buy organic when choosing certain fruits and veggies — especially spinach, grapes and others included in the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) "Dirty Dozen," aka produce shown to carry the most pesticide residue. They can also avoid or replace certain fruits and veggies altogether, though our experts mostly suggest simply eating a variety of properly washed fruits and veggies. Food scientist Abbey Thiel says she's less concerned about pesticide exposure and more motivated by the issue of food waste in the U.S., fueled in part by Americans letting their fruits and vegetables go bad. By washing her produce, she reduces the amount of spoilage bacteria and can extend the shelf life of her fruits and vegetables. "This would be my main reason to tell people to wash and then dry their fresh produce,' Thiel tells Yahoo Life. Here are a few tips from our experts on best produce-washing practices: Always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds prior to washing, cutting or peeling your produce Use cold water to rinse all produce for just a few seconds Scrub root vegetables and other thick-skinned produce (like melons and cucumbers) with a soft vegetable brush to reduce exposure to bacteria (or at least rub them thoroughly with your hands) To clean leafy greens, submerge them in water, drain and rinse Rinse berries using a colander If you want to be more thorough, you can use either of these DIY cleansers: 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 2 cups of water, soak for 10-15 minutes, then rinse 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water, soak for 5-10 minutes, then rinse If you're washing your produce with the intent of helping it last longer, do it sooner rather than later. 'To reduce the number of spoilage microorganisms, I would wash fresh produce right after purchasing it,' says Thiel. 'This will give you longer to eat your fresh fruits and vegetables.' However, she and other experts say the most important part is to thoroughly dry your produce after washing. Skip drying them out properly, and your fruits and veggies will get wilted, mushy and moldy much faster. Experts also recommend storing all washed produce in a breathable container with a dry paper towel to reduce moisture buildup. 'If you wash greens ahead of time, spin them dry and store them with a dry paper towel to reduce moisture buildup," Thiel adds. There are a couple of exceptions, though. Quoc Le says raspberries and mushrooms can easily get waterlogged, so it's best to wash these just before eating. Experts agree that commercially made produce washes aren't really any more effective at cleaning than plain tap water. Vaccaro says if you're worried about waxes or extra residue, DIY produce washes like the ones above are just fine. And while some have made the mistake of using soap to wash their produce during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, food safety experts say this is a big no-no, as is the use of bleach.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid era nearing an end?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) The Philadelphia 76ers are facing a significant crossroads as injuries and inconsistent performance raise questions about the future of their star, Joel Embiid. On "The Kevin O'Connor Show," guest Spike Eskin joins to discuss the likely doom of the Embiid era and whether there can be any hope for redemption. Embiid's durability has always been a point of concern, but his current struggles highlight a disturbing decline. Eskin notes that even if the 76ers wiped away their poor start, their performance since has been lackluster, pointing toward an inevitable rebuild. The question now looms: Is this the end? The prognosis is bleak. Embiid has hinted at needing 'a fix' for his ongoing issues, yet Eskin stresses, "There isn't a surgery that can change things." Embiid's persistent health problems now vastly overshadow his once-dominant play. The 76ers have been in freefall, with a losing streak plaguing their season. Their hopes are fading fast, and discussions over whether to shut Embiid down for the remainder of the season are more than on the table — it might be the only practical path. However, what remains uncertain is the fate of this Sixers era. Does general manager Daryl Morey consider making sweeping roster changes this offseason? What's clear is their trajectory under the current regime is unsustainable. If they hold on to hopes of rebuilding around Embiid, they must ask themselves if it's a gamble worth taking. As the season winds down, the 76ers must contemplate their path forward and maybe pivot toward a new direction. The coming months could define Philadelphia's basketball future. Tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube for more NBA insight.
