How Social Media's Dopamine Loops Affect the Teenage Brain — and How Parents Can Help Without Alienating Their Teenagers

On BBC News Arabic's Nuqtat Hewar, Sarah El Nabulsi explains why the teenage brain is uniquely vulnerable to the dopamine-driven feedback loops of social media — a vulnerability rooted in the prefrontal cortex, which continues developing into a person's mid-twenties. She addresses why parental attempts to limit a teenager's social media use often backfire when delivered through criticism rather than a focus on specific behaviors. Her guidance for parents: stay closely engaged with your teenager's world while maintaining clear authority as a parent.