Boys’ brains are being digitally rewired for change, novelty, excitement and constant arousal. That means they’re totally out of sync in traditional classes, which are analog, static, interactively passive.

Zimbardo is arguing that heavy exposure to fast-paced digital media conditions many boys to expect rapid feedback, novelty, and high stimulation. In his view, this “rewiring” creates a mismatch with conventional classroom environments, which often emphasize sustained attention, delayed rewards, and relatively passive reception of information. The quote frames the problem not as a moral failing or lack of intelligence, but as an environmental/technological shift that changes attentional habits and motivational triggers. It also implies that educational institutions may need to adapt pedagogy—through more interactive, engaging, and varied learning formats—if they want to reach students whose cognitive expectations have been shaped by digital experiences.