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The "Air Traffic Controller" of the Brain: Understanding Executive Functioning
Learning Difficulties
Jason Kinsey
Social media has become one of the defining experiences of adolescence. Platforms designed to capture attention and deliver constant feedback—endless feeds, notifications, videos, messages, and opinions—are now woven into daily life.
In response, public concern is growing. Some countries and jurisdictions are reconsidering how much access young people should have, and at what age. Australia, for example, has moved to restrict social media access for children under 15. Researchers such as Jonathan Haidt have raised important questions about the developmental impact of constant digital stimulation, particularly on attention, emotional regulation, and mental health.
Schools, governments, and parents are actively debating where to draw boundaries: whether to delay access, restrict usage, or redesign how technology is used altogether.
These conversations are so important. And - regardless of where policies land or how individual families choose to manage technology - one reality remains constant: navigating the digital world depends not only on rules, but on the underlying capacity of the brain itself.
For teens and children, online behavior is not simply a test of willpower. It reflects the strength, integration, and maturity of the cognitive systems guiding attention, judgment, and self-control.
When the Brain Struggles
Children with underdeveloped executive functioning—attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and reasoning—often find social media particularly difficult to manage.
A vulnerable cognitive system may show itself in several ways:
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Passive consumption: Endless scrolling with little comprehension or retention, when the brain struggles to hold and process information meaningfully.
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Impulsive reactions: Quick responses to posts or messages without pausing to consider tone, intent, or consequences.
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Difficulty judging credibility: When reasoning skills are limited, distinguishing reliable information from misinformation becomes harder.
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Overwhelm and avoidance: Rapid switching between feeds, messages, and notifications can quickly overload working memory and attention.
These challenges don’t stop online. They often appear in the classroom, in friendships, and in daily routines—affecting learning, emotional regulation, and resilience.
Thirteen-year-old Emma frequently misreads the tone of online messages, reacting defensively to what was intended as a joke. At school, she struggles to transition between subjects without losing focus. These patterns are not about motivation or effort; they reflect cognitive systems that need targeted support.
The Advantages of a Strong Brain
By contrast, children with well-developed executive functioning interact with social media - and the wider world - very differently.
Strong cognitive capacity supports:
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Critical evaluation: The ability to assess sources, recognize misinformation, and decide what deserves attention.
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Thoughtful responses: Better inhibitory control allows time to pause, reflect, and respond intentionally.
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Cognitive flexibility: Strong working memory and attention make it easier to shift between tasks without becoming overwhelmed.
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Emotional regulation: Online interactions are less likely to trigger intense emotional reactions or lingering distress.
These skills don’t eliminate challenges, but they give children internal tools to manage them.
Beyond Rules: Building the Brain
In response to growing concern, many families and schools are turning to external controls such as screen limits, delayed access, phone-free classrooms, or monitoring tools. These approaches can be helpful and, in some contexts, necessary.
However, rules primarily manage exposure and behavior. They do not, on their own, build the internal capacity a child will need as expectations increase and supervision fades.
Whether a child gains access at 12, 15, or later, the same question remains: Is their brain equipped to handle complexity, distraction, emotional pressure, and rapid information flow?
The most durable solution is not choosing the “right” policy, but strengthening the brain systems that allow a child to make thoughtful decisions—online and offline.
Building the Brain Itself
The qualities required to navigate social media well—sustained attention, reasoning, impulse control, emotional regulation, and cognitive integration—are not fixed traits. They are functions of the brain that can be strengthened through structured, intentional practice.
Neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change in response to targeted experience—means that the systems guiding judgment and self-regulation can improve, even when they are underdeveloped.
This approach does not replace boundaries or guidance. It complements them by giving children internal tools they carry forward into adolescence and adulthood.
Enduring Capacities for a Changing World
We cannot childproof the digital world, and we cannot predict every platform or pressure children will face.
Yes, we should set thoughtful boundaries, delay access when appropriate, and keep lines of communication open. But just as importantly, we can invest in building brains that are capable of managing complexity, distraction, and choice.
Better to build a compass than to hand out maps.
The most effective tool we can give children is a strong, adaptable brain—one capable of analyzing, discerning, and making thoughtful decisions, no matter what the external rules may be.
We may not control the world our children grow into.
But we can help ensure they are cognitively prepared to navigate it.
We can’t childproof the world, but we can brain-proof the child.
Post by
Tara Bonner
October 30, 2025
October 30, 2025
Tara Bonner collaborates with professionals and educators worldwide, envisioning the convergence of learning and neuroscience. Tara has witnessed that cognitive programming can be a transformative force not just for struggling learners, but for all seeking to experience learning with ease and joy. She's honored to be part of these discussions and an organization that's revolutionizing education by putting the "Brain in Education."
