In a defining moment for the digital age, Merriam-Webster has officially declared "slop" as its 2025 Word of the Year. This selection captures the overwhelming spread of poor-quality, artificial intelligence-generated material that has saturated online spaces, professional environments, and even children's entertainment this year.
From Mud to Digital Junk: The Evolution of 'Slop'
The dictionary publisher, a trusted language authority for over 180 years, now defines "slop" as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence." The term's journey to this modern meaning is fascinating. It was first used in the 1700s to describe "soft mud." By the 1800s, its meaning shifted to "food waste," and over time, it evolved to signify general "rubbish" or items of little value.
In 2025, however, "slop" became ubiquitous in discussions about the internet's declining quality. The flood included absurd AI videos, bizarre ad images, cheesy propaganda, convincing fake news, poorly written AI books, and a plethora of "talking cat" videos. This phenomenon, termed "AI slop," has moved from niche tech concern to mainstream cultural issue.
AI Slop Invades YouTube and the Workplace
The invasion of slop has been particularly noticeable on video platforms. A report by The Guardian earlier this year revealed a startling trend: nine of the 100 fastest-growing YouTube channels were primarily built on AI slop. This content, often low-effort and algorithmically churned out, featured oddities like cat soap operas and zombies playing football. In response, YouTube, owned by Google, tightened its monetisation rules, now demanding "original" and "authentic" content from creators.
The problem deepened with findings from Bloomberg, which reported that YouTube Kids was being inundated with AI-generated videos consumed by children under two. This content cleverly mixed real photos and videos with synthetic AI voiceovers, raising serious concerns about media literacy and development.
The workplace hasn't been spared either. A Harvard Business Review study identified a new trend dubbed "workslop." It describes a situation where employees use AI tools to produce subpar, low-effort work, which often creates more tasks and corrections for their colleagues, ultimately reducing overall productivity.
The Broader Impact and Platform Responses
The consequences of this AI-driven clutter are becoming a subject of intense study. While research on "slop" specifically is nascent, critics warn that prolonged exposure to such low-value, automated content could have negative effects, especially on children and teens whose cognitive abilities are still developing. Studies on AI chatbots, like one from MIT, suggest they can weaken memory and impair critical thinking, hinting at potential risks from similar technologies.
The internet is now filled with everything from dubious AI recipes and low-quality videos to sophisticated fake news, thanks to this phenomenon. The response from tech giants has been mixed. While platforms like Wikipedia, Spotify, and Pinterest have implemented measures to curb AI slop, others have embraced it. Companies including Meta and OpenAI have launched dedicated apps that provide feeds of easily shareable, AI-generated videos, further fueling the cycle.
As 2025 draws to a close, the designation of "slop" as Word of the Year serves as a powerful cultural marker. It underscores a critical moment where the volume of AI-generated content has begun to actively degrade the quality of our digital and professional lives, prompting a necessary conversation about authenticity, value, and the future of information online.
