TABLE OF CONTENTS THE DIGITAL GRIP 

Content

Introduction 11

1 Gen Alpha 15
 Who is Gen Alpha? 15
 The parenting dilemma 20
 Sharenting 21

2 Understanding the Adolescent Brain 23
 Development of the adolescent brain 23
 The social environment 25
 Vulnerabilities and variations 28

3 How Technology Hacks the Brain 31
 The business model of distraction 31
 The attention economy, UX design and addictive mechanisms 35
 Young people as the big experiment 47

4 Young People as a Gold Mine and Long-Term Investment 49
 The goldmine called young people 49
 Data as a strategic asset 50
 Brand loyalty and AI-training 51
 Culture, norm-setting and power in education and politics 52
 Young people as a testing audience for innovation 55
 The “digital self” as a revenue model 57
 Education and politics 61

5 The Paradoxical Relationship with Social Media 67
 Peer pressure and self-presentation 67
 Identity and image as anchors 70
 Cancel culture and perfectionism 72
 The illusion of online connection 77
 Digital shame 79
 Escaping reality 81

6 The Impact of Influencers 83
 Influencers as friends 83
 The paradox of the overstimulated influencer 84
 The rise of the AI-influencer 85
 The appeal of the influencer lifestyle 86
 Regulation and disclosure 87

7 Online Intimacy 91
 Digital closeness and consent 91
 Cultural pressure and gender dynamics 93
 Sexting, consent and loss of control 95
 Self-image, body image and digital intimacy 96
 Consent: legal and societal dimensions 97
 The role and responsibility of online platforms 99
 Digital temptation: dating apps and porn platforms 100
 Deepfakes 102
 Emotional overstimulation 104

8 The Digital Grip and Its Consequences 107
 Mental and neuro(bio)logical effects 107
 Daily functioning and long-term consequences 117
 Self-image 121
 Physical complaints | sleep problems 122
 The erased power of boredom 126
 Attachment in the era of “always being switched on” 128
 Gender differences 130

9 Neurodivergency and The Digital Grip 133
 Neurodivergence and digitalisation 133
 The broad spectrum of neurodivergence: core symptoms, technology and opportunities 133

10 The Unsettling Future: Immersive Technology 143
 AI, VR, AR and XR explained 143
 The impact on the brain 147
 Parasocial relationships with chatbots and the dangers 151
 AI-NPCs and generative agents 155
 Revenue models and privacy 157
 The avatar and self-image 160
 VR and embodiment 161

11 The Escape 163
 Screen use and digital hygiene 163
 Personal level – digital hygiene at home 164
 Self-regulation and education 166
 Digital alternatives and system change 167
 Our influence on Big Tech 171
 The law as a weapon 172
 Bottom-up counterpower 175
 Society – the environment as support 176
 From insight to action 177

Epilogue 179

DGTooL Training Programme 181

Reference list 183