10 Signs Your Kid Has Popcorn Brain and What to Do About It, According to a Psychologist

You know that feeling when you sit down to fold some laundry, only to get sidetracked by Instagram? Now you’re watching a video about shoes, which reminds you that the kids need new sneakers, so suddenly you’re online shopping. Then your friend texts about a playdate  tomorrow and—wait—what were you supposed to be doing again? Yeah, that’s popcorn brain. 

Researchers have long known that this mental state can affect adults, but now some experts are cautioning that teens may be just as susceptible. Here’s what to know about popcorn brain in kids, including how to spot it—and what to do about it.

Meet the Expert

Don Grant, Ph.D., MA, MFA, DAC, SUDCC IV is the National Advisor of Healthy Device Management at Newport Healthcare, a behavioral healthcare provider focused on mental health and substance use treatment for youth, young adults and families.

‘Popcorn brain’ was initially coined by David M. Levy, Ph.D., a computer scientist at the University of Washington, who described it as “being so hooked on electronic multitasking that the slower paced life offline holds no interest.” 

In short, it’s the inability to focus on one thing for an extended period of time, instead bouncing around from one thought or task to another. According to experts, the condition stems from excessive social media use and the relentless ping of digital notifications.

“Mirroring some ADHD-type behaviors (but not an ADHD diagnosis), the term refers to the way popcorn kernels rapidly pop when heated and symptomatically reflects the rapid and disjointed nature of thoughts and information often experienced when mentally processing in this state,” says Dr. Grant. (The expert notes that ADHD is a neurological disorder recognized by the American Psychiatric Association that can cause persistent struggles with sustaining attention, maintaining focus, episodes of hyperactive behavior, and events of impulsivity; popcorn brain is not a clinical diagnosis but refers to a state of mind characterized by a short attention span and jumping from one thought to another due to excessive digital stimulation. )

Sound familiar? Yep, same. But don’t be too hard on yourself—it’s not entirely your fault. “The human brain has evolved to crave and seek out positive attention and social reinforcement, both of which trigger dopamine ‘hits.’ Thus, the positive reactions and content delivered through our social media engagement can automatically trigger this primitive drive,” says Dr. Grant. In other words, your brain is wired to chase the dopamine rush that comes from short and snappy videos and nonstop notifications.

Kids experiencing popcorn brain may suffer from all kinds of unwanted side effects, including short attention spans, stress or fatigue, increased impulsivity and impatience, and brain fog.

But here’s the thing—as adults, we most likely have the brain power to resist the temptation to check our devices nonstop. We also understand when other responsibilities (work, picking the kids up from school, cleaning our room) require our immediate attention. Kids, on the other hand, not so much. 

And that’s bad news for the next generation. Dr. Grant explains that kids experiencing popcorn brain may suffer from all kinds of unwanted side effects, including short attention spans, stress or fatigue, increased impulsivity and impatience, and brain fog. He also notes that there are physical health impacts, including eye strain, headaches, fatigue, sluggishness, and poor sleep quality. 

Per Dr. Grant, if your child chronically demonstrates any of the below behavior (“and it cannot be linked to a biological, psychological, and/or sociologically issue”), then they may be experiencing popcorn brain:

• Difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus
• Rapid shifts in attention
• Difficulty retaining information
• Difficulty following multi-step directions
• Mental overload

• Frustration and procrastination 
• Increased anxiety
• Difficulty with emotional regulation
• Feeling disinterested
• Mental exhaustion

“If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek the help and support of a trained medical or psychological professional, even if just to rule out any potentially more serious issues which might be at play.”

“If your child is experiencing any popcorn brain symptoms or behaviors, start with first discussing, and then establishing with them, healthier practices and boundaries around their technology use with the goal of promoting healthier device management, mindfulness, good sleep, dietary, grooming and exercise, and alternate social, extracurricular and family activities,” advises Dr. Grant. 

How do you do that exactly? Here are three ways to start:

1. Block or pause alerts, notifications and push messages. Most devices have the option to limit, pause or block notifications. Take advantage of this feature during the times of the day where your child should be concentrating on the task or activity at hand (whether that’s doing homework or practicing piano). And if you’re worried that you won’t be able to reach your kid in case of an emergency, remember that there’s always the option of allowing important notifications from select apps or contacts (i.e. family members) to still be delivered. 
2. Establish tech/device free zones and times. “Identify and discuss with your child specific times and spaces (like bedtime and their bedroom and mealtimes at the table) which will be considered ‘No Tech/Device Areas & Times,’” says Dr. Grant. Note: This tip applies to the entire family, BTW, not just kids (so put your phone down at dinner, OK?). 
3. Model healthy device management behaviors yourself. This one may be a hard kernel pill to swallow, but it can have a big impact. “Limit your own tech use to set a good example; our children are constantly picking up cues and learning from us,” the expert explains. Show your kid how to focus on a task with your device out of sight and try to engage in some quality family time offline, whether that be throwing a ball around outside or doing a puzzle together. 

Did you make it this far? Great! Did you make it this far without checking your texts/email/Instagram? Probably not. But remember—if you want your kid to have a healthy relationship with technology then it starts with leading by example. You’ve got this.