What is Steal a Brainrot? Here’s what parents should know

As the parent of a young kid, you’ve probably heard of Roblox—an online platform that allows players to make their own games. 

It’s not unusual for different Roblox games to fall in and out of popularity. The latest Roblox craze? Steal a Brainrot. You might’ve heard your kids talking about the game, or even seen them playing it.

But what is Steal a Brainrot? Here’s what you should know.

What is Steal a Brainrot?

Steal a Brainrot is the latest Roblox game for young kids. The premise is simple: rob “Brainrots,” or characters that are based on internet memes, from other players. When you steal a Brainrot, you’ll make money in the game.

Players can steal Brainrots by sneaking into another player’s base, or house, and taking them back to their own. When you steal a Brainrot from another player’s base, that player will be alerted and a chaotic chase ensues. 

If you successfully take the Brainrot to your base and make money, you can use that money to buy more Brainrots or to increase the defenses of your base. 

The game is basically capture the flag—but instead of a flag, players capture memes.

Why is Steal a Brainrot so popular?

According to Polygon, millions of people are playing Steal a Brainrot, and 40% of the players are under 12.

The game rose to popularity because of the viral Italian brainrot memes—which are, per Polygon, a “phenomenon where people generate AI images of animals fused with random objects.” 

The first viral Italian brainrot character was Tralalero Tralala, which is a shark with feet that wears Nike shoes. It’s the most valuable character in Steal a Brainrot, and many of the other characters reference Italian brainrot memes.

That’s probably why the game is so popular: it’s a simple premise that references popular brainrot memes. Kids likely find it funny, while the game is fun and easy to play.

What does brainrot mean in slang?

Brainrot—which was named the Oxford Word of the Year in 2024—references “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”

In other words: Do you watch too many TikToks? Your brain has rotted. Ergo, brainrot. 

It’s a commonly-used slang that signals that someone is dumb because they’re spending too much time consuming online content.

Is Steal a Brainrot safe for kids?

Steal a Brainrot is as safe as any online game—while not inherently dangerous, it does raise a few concerns.

According to Parents, the biggest concern is that your child could be “contacted by strangers.” Your child can play Steal a Brainrot on either a public and private server, “and parents can limit who has access to the private server.”

But, if your child plays on a public server, your child can play with anyone—of any age. If your child wants to play Steal a Brainrot, it might be safer to have them play on a private server.

Additionally, children can make in-app purchases that cost real money. Parents can limit monthly purchases, but when unchecked, kids could potentially spend a lot of money.

It’s also worth noting that the game can be very addictive. According to Parents, the American Association of Pediatrics said that “Roblox’s social aspect, reward system, and endless options make it hard for kids to log off and do other things.”

The bottom line on Steal a Brainrot

Steal a Brainrot isn’t necessarily a dangerous game—but it can be a massive time suck.

Kids can play Steal a Brainrot safely—when closely monitored by parents. The game may be silly and mindless, but when played sparingly, it should be harmless.

Steal a Brainrot is nothing to panic about. Just keep an eye out for potential dangers. 

Worried about your kids playing Steal a Brainrot? Try a Gabb phone. Our Tech in Steps lets you slowly integrate technology into your kid’s lives—at the right time.

Have thoughts about Steal a Brainrot or questions about Roblox games? Join the conversation in the comments and share what’s working (or not) in your home.