tech
January 19, 2026
‘Disgustingly educated’: will this trend make you cleverer?
Social media is filling up with influencers telling us how to become much more intellectual. A great, enriching idea – or just another cue to show off?
TL;DR
- Social media influencers are promoting a trend of becoming "disgustingly educated."
- The trend involves encouraging self-improvement, reading specific books, and engaging with nonfiction essays or old films.
- Platforms like Reddit and TikTok feature content on how to boost knowledge in various subjects.
- A concern is raised that this trend might promote pseudointellectualism, prioritizing the appearance of knowledge over genuine learning.
- The author questions if this trend encourages true intellectual growth or a superficial display for social media likes.
- The trend's viral nature on shallow platforms like TikTok is seen as a potential issue.
- The etymology of "gross" is discussed, with a twist about outsourcing intelligence to AI.
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