How social media addiction has given rise to popcorn brain in young adults

One of the most important lessons of content creation is to catch the audience's attention in the first three seconds. Why? Technology, specifically social media has severely cut down people's attention spans and given rise to popcorn brains.

The ‘popcorn brain' trend refers to the scattered, distracted state of mind caused by constant multitasking and digital overload," enlightens Dr Rahul Chandhok, head consultant, mental health and behavioural science, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram.

Expanding on it further, Dr Parth Nagda, consultant, psychiatry, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai says, "Popcorn brain is a colloquial term used to describe a state of mind, wherein, there are excessive, scattered, unrelated thoughts, on different topics that hamper our ability to focus on one specific task. It is like how popcorns pop in a pan when heated â€" randomly without order. It is an informal term used to describe certain moments in a day when a person feels active but unfocused. It is associated with various other physiological or pathological processes like stress, sleep deprivation, and anxiety."

The term 'Popcorn brain or kernel brain' was first coined in 2011 by David Levy, a quality-of-life researcher at the University of Washington. It denotes the tendency of the mind to hop from one thought or task to another in a manner similar to popcorn popping in a pan â€" quick, sporadic, and unpredictable.

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How is social media responsible for the rise in popcorn brain?
According to statistics shared by Nagda, India had the largest Facebook users in the world in 2021 (320 million users), 400 million WhatsApp users, 450 million YouTube users, and 150-200 million Instagram users.

These figures speak of how much content Indians are producing and consuming daily. "The average person spends about 145 minutes on social media every day. If the average person maintained this usage over an average life span of 73 years, the result is an astonishing 5.7 years spent on social media platforms," says Chandhok.

Technology, the internet, and social media contribute to popcorn brain by bombarding employees and young adults with a constant stream of notifications, emails, and messages, fragmenting attention and hindering deep focus.

The constant connectivity provided by smartphones and computers encourages constant multitasking and information overload, fragmenting attention and undermining focus.

Social media platforms are designed to capture and retain attention and perpetuate addictive behaviours which results in compulsive checking and distraction. Furthermore, societal pressures to stay constantly connected contribute to feelings of overwhelm and anxiety.

The existence of digital communication and the expectation of instant responses further worsen the problem, making it challenging for people to disconnect and regain control over their cognitive processes.

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What led to the rise in popcorn brain?
Chandok states, "Many factors contributed to the rise in the popcorn brain in recent years." Some of them include:

1. Digital overload: Constant exposure to digital devices and information overload can interfere with the brain's capacity to focus.

2. Multitasking culture: The expectation to multitask in today's fast-paced world can fragment attention and result in scattered thinking.

3. Social media: Extended periods of scrolling and constant notifications from social media platforms can disrupt concentration and promote distracted thinking.

4. Stress and anxiety: High levels of stress and anxiety, which are very common in modern society, can impair cognitive function and increase mental restlessness.

5. Lack of mindfulness: Decreased emphasis on mindfulness and presence in daily life results in a distracted mind.

Does popcorn brain harm mental health and productivity?
According to Nagda, "Popcorn brain can have significant negative consequences. Concerning mental well-being, constantly checking your phones and responding to every notification the minute it is received can reduce focus and productivity at work. One can also face difficulty in learning new tasks and memory issues."

"Further, constantly checking your phone can also increase levels of stress or anxiety leading to burnout. The habit of constantly being on the phone also comes in the way of our sleeping habits. Poor sleep quality can also cause corresponding issues. Additionally, the urge to use your phone also leads to a decreased sense of satisfaction or enjoyment as it's difficult to enjoy hobbies or activities by being fully engaged at the moment."

Popcorn brain also affects work productivity leading to poor performance. One can face difficulty in concentration which can take longer for the tasks to finish. A disturbed sleep cycle makes one feel too tired to finish tasks within deadlines the next day. Similarly, the impulsivity to check phones after every few minutes can hamper proper decision-making.

Instead of making meaningful progress on important tasks, people may find themselves stuck in a cycle of never-ending work where they are not being their productive selves and are constantly exhausted.

These issues can then lead to indecisiveness/ procrastination and a sense of being overwhelmed and stressed out.

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What are the symptoms of popcorn brain?
Chandok shares key symptoms of popcorn brain:

1. People may experience a constant urge to check their smartphones or other devices, even when unnecessary, leading to disrupted workflows and decreased productivity.

2. They may face difficulty in focusing on tasks for extended periods, frequent forgetfulness, heightened distractibility, and reduced ability to retain information.

3. People may struggle to prioritise tasks, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and responsibilities.

4. Sleep disturbances, like insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns, can also be associated with popcorn brain, as excessive digital stimulation before bedtime disturbs the brain's ability to unwind and rest effectively.

Can children have a popcorn brain?
"The term isn't used for children, but they can have similar symptoms due to behavioural issues, care given when growing up, normal variations of teenage / childhood behaviour or due to a psychiatric illness such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)," says Nagda.

According to Chandok, "Children are also vulnerable to developing a popcorn brain because of their exposure to digital devices and constant stimulation from screens. This phenomenon can negatively impact their developing minds in various ways."

Excessive screen time can interfere with cognitive development, compromising attention span, memory, and critical thinking skills.

It may also hamper social and emotional development by reducing opportunities for face-to-face interaction and empathy-building experiences.

Furthermore, the constant use of digital mediums can cause sleep disturbances and increased risk of anxiety and depression.

It can also lead to reduced academic performance due to difficulty in focusing in exams, homework or classroom.

Limiting screen time and promoting offline activities are crucial for mitigating these negative effects and fostering healthy cognitive development in children.

How to get rid of popcorn brain?
1. Mindfulness meditation: Practise focusing on the present moment to keep the mind calm.

2. Organisational tools: To keep everything organised and less cluttered, use planners, calendars, or apps to jot down thoughts and tasks.

3. Break tasks into smaller steps: To prevent setting unrealistic goals, divide tasks into manageable chunks.

4. Limit multitasking: Focus on one task at a time to improve concentration.

5. Regular exercise: Being physically active can help in reducing stress and improve cognitive function.

6. Deep breathing exercises: Practise deep breathing exercises to relax and refocus the mind.

7. Engage in hobbies: Engaging in hobbies that don't require the use of technology will help improve the mind. These hobbies can include singing, drawing, sketching, cycling, gardening, cooking, baking, dancing etc.