Most parents can relate to this experience: You stand in front of your teenager, reminding them that they need to finish their homework and put away their laundry before dinner. Their eyes meet yours for a split second before darting back to their iPad, where they are simultaneously chatting with friends and watching a Minecraft play-through. You doubt seriously that they’ve heard a word you’ve said and are even more skeptical that they’ll actually do their chores.
In our current reality of digital media saturation, kids are more distracted than ever, and it shows. A lack of follow-through, constant fatigue, inability to focus, and general disinterest in the non-digital world are all familiar signs of a phenomenon that exists thanks to the internet: It’s known as ‘popcorn brain,’ and while it can affect media users at any age, it’s particularly problematic for teens because it occurs at such a pivotal time in their development.
Let’s take a look at what popcorn brain means and strategies to help teens avoid its effects.
What Is Popcorn Brain?
The term ‘popcorn brain’ was coined by University of Washington computer sciences professor, David M. Levy, Ph.D., to describe a state of being wherein individuals are so hooked on digital multitasking that slower-paced everyday tasks hold no interest. Essentially, by scrolling on digital platforms, toggling from one app to another, and double-screening (in other words, scrolling on Instagram, while watching a movie on the television), digital media users are diminishing their attention spans and interests in hobbies, tasks, and even social interactions that take in the real world.
What Are the Signs of Popcorn Brain in Teens?
It might be next to impossible to keep your teen off the internet and away from screens in the modern era, but you can cut back, especially if you think your teen might be developing popcorn brain—but first you need to know what to look for.
According to a 2021 study in the Public Library of Science, “higher levels of media multitasking were associated with higher levels of psychological distress, lower levels of socioemotional functioning, worse behavior and attention ratings by both teachers and parents, worse sleep and lower levels of grit.”
Other signs that parents should be on the outlook for include:
- Difficulty concentrating, rapid shifts in attention
- Constant craving for stimulation
- Difficulty retaining information
- Difficulty following multi-step directions
- Feeling anxious and unable to regulate emotions
How Does Popcorn Brain Affect Your Teen?
So your kid is slightly more distracted than usual? Beyond the inability to concentrate on their homework without constant prodding, is this really a big problem? Well, yes, it could actually harm their cognitive abilities long term.
According to a 2019 study published in World Psychiatry, “The Internet’s digital distractions…seem to create a non‐ideal environment for the refinement of higher cognitive functions in critical periods of children and adolescents’ brain development.”
The study finds that the adverse effects of digital multitasking are more pronounced in early adolescence. Researchers found that, troublingly, “higher frequency of Internet use over [the course of] 3 years in children is linked with decreased verbal intelligence.”
Aliah Singh, co-founder of CultivaTeen Roots, an online learning platform for parents and caregivers of teens, emphasizes that popcorn brain can have an impact on a child’s emotional development.
“Because teen brains have not yet mastered the art of managing their intense emotions, spending time on social media removes adolescents from real life situations that allow them to build important social skills,” she explains.”Prolonged screen time can lead to mood swings and make real world obstacles feel more stressful than they are, causing adolescents to shut down and become overwhelmed.”
What Can Parents Do to Combat Popcorn Brain?
Okay yes, all that sounds pretty dire. But there’s no reason to panic. Parents can combat the effects of popcorn brain, although it might take some work.
In order to mitigate the effects of popcorn brain, Singh advises caregivers to establish healthy boundaries around screen time. You’ve probably heard that advice before, but it’s important enough that it bears repeating—parents need to make sure that their kids have more to do with their time than scroll on devices or consume entertainment on screens.
“Making space on a regular basis to be mindful, intentional, and present (without the presence of screens) can help the teen brain relearn how to maintain focus,” Singh says.
Singh also emphasizes the importance of in-person social engagement as well as the value of boredom. “From boredom comes creativity, new ideas, patience, imagination, focus and more. In our fast paced world, teens need to work on slowing down,” she explains.
Simple Alternatives to Screen Time
I know, you already have so little energy, but that means being even more attuned to how they spend their time, being more present with them so that as a family you can compromise on productive, healthy ways to fill their days. Some simple suggestions include:
- Going on a walk together
- Helping them find a book they love
- Involving them in dinner preparation
- Dedicating 30 minutes to an hour everyday to engage in a puzzle or arts and crafts project, depending on your child’s interests
- Assign chores or projects (repainting a bedroom, sorting through old clothes that can be donated) that will get them involved and invested in running your household
More Tips for Combating Popcorn Brain
Jannice Jones, a coach and trainer specializing in neurodiversity and executive function coaching, echoes Singh’s advice, suggesting the following tips for combating popcorn brain in teens:
- Practice mindfulness and meditation in order to strengthen attention and focus and regulate dopamine and noradrenaline levels.
- Schedule offline time, and use tools to track and limit screen time.
- Create focused environments, study areas in your home that are free from distractions.
- Engage in analog activities, specifically hobbies that promote deep focus such as reading, drawing, playing music, or spending time in nature.
- Make sure your kids are enrolled in some kind of extracurricular activity (or have a hobby) that gets their bodies moving, does not involve technology, or gets them socializing with other people their age—preferably all three. Encouraging so-called grandma hobbies might be another way to get your kid away from screens.
- Promote healthy sleep habits by establishing regular sleep schedules and a relaxing, screen-free bedtime routine.
Key Takeaway
As a result of digital multitasking, the phenomenon known as popcorn brain leads to a reduced ability to concentrate and maintain focus, difficulty retaining information and completing tasks, and challenges with emotional regulation.
In order to combat this extremely common condition, it’s important to work together with your teen to create realistic, healthy boundaries around screen time. Emphasize the importance of screen-free time in nature, with friends and family, and in creative settings, and model the behavior you want to see in your kids by limiting your own dependence on technology.
