Because children’s prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, does not fully develop until around age 25, young users are particularly vulnerable to highly engaging AI systems because the bots create a dopamine response, explains Dr. Mitch Prinstein, co-director of the University of North Carolina’s Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development. He warns that these bots are engineered to be agreeable or “sycophantic,” consistently affirming whatever users say.

🧠 HALF BRAIN REALITY: Kids’ prefrontal cortex won’t be done until 25 - stop expecting adult behavior from developing brains. Let’s be more realistic: 🧠 Emotional regulation, impulse control, and self-awareness centers still under construction 🧠 Spills and accidents are likely as motor skills are still developing 🧠 Energy regulation and attention spans match brain development, not our timelines 🧠 Realistic expectations reduce parent frustration and child shame about normal development 🧠 Sup