Chada Azar
MTV Website Exclusive
As usual, your mother was right. It is your phone and things are getting wilder by the day. Scrolling mindlessly on social media for hours and asking AI to handle even the simplest tasks has become normal. But how does this affect us and what does it do to our brains?
“There is a huge gap between generations because younger ones like Gen Z and Gen Alpha grew up in a fully digital world,” explains Dr. Fouad Noujeim in an exclusive interview with MTV website. “Screens are inseparable from their everyday lives. Older generations encountered them later and in a more controlled way.”
Attention patterns are different for younger people because their brains are wired for more screen time and different interests. “Their engagement with screens is fundamentally different from older generations. Research shows that constant exposure to screens, notifications, and short content fragments attention. This makes focusing on longer tasks much harder,” he adds.
The popular term brain rot is not an exaggeration. “AI and short-form content continuously stimulate the brain’s dopamine reward system. Frequent dopamine release encourages rapid information seeking and creates an expectation of instant reward. Over time, this reduces patience, tolerance for boredom, and cognitive effort,” Noujeim says.
AI can also be beneficial if used correctly. Some websites and apps apply neuroeducation principles to adapt to each learner. “These programs can strengthen the fronto-parietal attentional networks linking frontal and parietal brain regions. This is especially helpful for children with ADHD. EndeavorRx, for example, is an AI-based game designed to help kids with attention disorders.”
However, endless streams of short content interrupt the prefrontal cortex and lead to cognitive overload and mental fatigue. “The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex controls task switching. When we constantly switch from one short content piece to another, our brains learn to focus for very brief periods. Long tasks become harder,” he explains.
Noujeim also jokes about the risks of too much AI, pointing to the viral video of someone on a date who constantly consulted ChatGPT about their conversation. “Relying on AI for everything weakens the skills we need to think and make decisions. Just like muscles, the brain strengthens through practice. If AI does all the thinking, our neural circuits shrink and intellectual passivity sets in. Constant dopamine hits from short-form content and AI interactions train the brain to seek quick rewards, making it more impulsive and less able to focus or tolerate boredom,” he warns.
Dr. Noujeim leaves us with practical advice. “Be mindful of your screen time and recognize when AI is truly necessary. Allow your attention to rest and engage in productive, educational activities offline to stimulate your brain. Use AI strategically to support active learning, disable unnecessary notifications, and always verify facts to strengthen your critical thinking.”
In the words of our mothers, put your phone down, go outside, and do something productive. The internet will still be there tomorrow. Touch some grass.
“There is a huge gap between generations because younger ones like Gen Z and Gen Alpha grew up in a fully digital world,” explains Dr. Fouad Noujeim in an exclusive interview with MTV website. “Screens are inseparable from their everyday lives. Older generations encountered them later and in a more controlled way.”
Attention patterns are different for younger people because their brains are wired for more screen time and different interests. “Their engagement with screens is fundamentally different from older generations. Research shows that constant exposure to screens, notifications, and short content fragments attention. This makes focusing on longer tasks much harder,” he adds.
The popular term brain rot is not an exaggeration. “AI and short-form content continuously stimulate the brain’s dopamine reward system. Frequent dopamine release encourages rapid information seeking and creates an expectation of instant reward. Over time, this reduces patience, tolerance for boredom, and cognitive effort,” Noujeim says.
AI can also be beneficial if used correctly. Some websites and apps apply neuroeducation principles to adapt to each learner. “These programs can strengthen the fronto-parietal attentional networks linking frontal and parietal brain regions. This is especially helpful for children with ADHD. EndeavorRx, for example, is an AI-based game designed to help kids with attention disorders.”
However, endless streams of short content interrupt the prefrontal cortex and lead to cognitive overload and mental fatigue. “The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex controls task switching. When we constantly switch from one short content piece to another, our brains learn to focus for very brief periods. Long tasks become harder,” he explains.
Noujeim also jokes about the risks of too much AI, pointing to the viral video of someone on a date who constantly consulted ChatGPT about their conversation. “Relying on AI for everything weakens the skills we need to think and make decisions. Just like muscles, the brain strengthens through practice. If AI does all the thinking, our neural circuits shrink and intellectual passivity sets in. Constant dopamine hits from short-form content and AI interactions train the brain to seek quick rewards, making it more impulsive and less able to focus or tolerate boredom,” he warns.
Dr. Noujeim leaves us with practical advice. “Be mindful of your screen time and recognize when AI is truly necessary. Allow your attention to rest and engage in productive, educational activities offline to stimulate your brain. Use AI strategically to support active learning, disable unnecessary notifications, and always verify facts to strengthen your critical thinking.”
In the words of our mothers, put your phone down, go outside, and do something productive. The internet will still be there tomorrow. Touch some grass.
