Internet slang evolves faster than most of us can keep up with. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on TikTok or X lately, you’ve probably seen the word "goon" or the phrase "what to goon to" used in ways that have nothing to do with old-school mobster movies. It’s weird. It's confusing. But it's a real part of how a specific subset of the internet talks now. Basically, it describes a state of total, hypnotic absorption in digital content—often to the point of a trance-like state. It's about being "locked in."
While the term has undeniable roots in adult-oriented corners of the web, its usage has mutated. You see it in gaming, in "brain rot" meme culture, and even in productivity circles where people joke about being "gooned out" on a specific task or hobby. It’s a rabbit hole.
The Evolution of What to Goon To
When people search for what to goon to, they are usually looking for high-stimulation, "high-dopamine" content that allows them to zone out for hours. It’s a modern phenomenon. We live in an era of infinite scroll. Whether it's the 15-second loop of a TikTok dance or the repetitive grind of an MMORPG, the goal is the same: total sensory immersion.
Some researchers, like those looking into "doomscrolling" and digital addiction, might argue this is just a more aggressive form of media consumption. Dr. Anna Lembke, author of Dopamine Nation, often talks about how our brains aren't wired for this much constant stimulation. When you're looking for what to goon to, you're essentially looking for a way to override your brain's natural pause button. It’s about chasing that next hit of dopamine until the world outside the screen disappears.
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Why the Term Stuck
Slang usually sticks because it fills a gap. "Binging" wasn't enough to describe the intensity. "Obsessing" felt too clinical. "Gooning" implies a loss of control. It’s a bit self-deprecating. Most people using the term today are aware of how ridiculous it sounds. They use it ironically. Then the irony fades, and it just becomes the word. That's how language works.
Content That Drives the "Goon" State
What are people actually looking for? It varies wildly. For some, it’s the "satisfying" video genre—think power washing, kinetic sand cutting, or those hydraulic press videos that dominated YouTube a few years back. There is a specific rhythm to it. It's hypnotic.
For others, the focus is gaming. "Gooning" in a gaming context often refers to the repetitive, almost mindless grind required to level up. You aren't really "playing" in the traditional sense; you're just executing a loop. It’s "what to goon to" for the competitive set. They want to shut their brains off and let muscle memory take over.
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The Role of Social Media Algorithms
Algorithms are the architects of this behavior. They are designed to find exactly what to goon to for you specifically. They track your gaze. They measure how many milliseconds you pause on a frame.
- TikTok: The "For You" page is the ultimate engine for this. It’s a never-ending stream of micro-content.
- YouTube: Long-form "video essays" or 10-hour ambient noise loops serve the same purpose for a different demographic.
- Twitch: Watching a streamer play a game for eight hours straight provides a parasocial backdrop for a user’s own digital zoning out.
The Psychological Impact of High-Stimulation Content
It isn't all just harmless fun. There’s a dark side to seeking out what to goon to. When we overstimulate the reward pathways in our brains, we can experience a "dopamine crash." This leads to irritability, anxiety, and a decreased ability to enjoy real-world activities.
Psychiatrists have noted a rise in "brain fog" among heavy users of high-stimulation media. It’s like your brain is "fried." You’ve spent so long locked into a screen that the physical world feels slow and boring.
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Finding a Balance
Is there a healthy way to engage? Maybe. Some people use these high-stim loops as a form of "body doubling" to stay focused on work, or as a way to decompress after a high-stress day. But the line between decompression and dissociation is thin. Really thin.
- Set hard limits on "infinite scroll" apps.
- Be mindful of why you are seeking out that specific content.
- Recognize the physical signs of being "locked in"—sore eyes, hunched shoulders, lost time.
Shifting the Perspective
Instead of asking what to goon to, some digital wellness experts suggest looking for "slow media." This is the opposite of the high-stim grind. It’s long-form reading. It’s podcasts that don’t rely on jump cuts. It’s content that requires active participation rather than passive absorption.
It’s harder. It’s less "satisfying" in the short term. But it doesn’t leave you feeling like a shell of a person at 3:00 AM.
The internet isn't going anywhere, and neither is the urge to zone out. The term might change. In five years, "gooning" might sound as dated as "pwned." But the behavior—the search for total digital immersion—is a core part of the human experience in 2026. We just have to decide how much of ourselves we’re willing to lose to the screen.
To manage your digital consumption more effectively, start by auditing your "discover" feeds. Unfollow accounts that trigger mindless scrolling. Replace one "satisfying" video loop with a 10-minute walk or a single chapter of a physical book. Observe how your focus returns when you stop feeding the loop.