Planet on Drugs

Are we all junkies? Online addiction is an ambivalent and emotional phenomenon whose multiple symptoms can no longer be overlooked in society: low attention spans, the search for simple answers to complex questions, radicalisation and polarisation within society, and mental health problems among adults and young people are on the rise. "Always online" with the smartphone is the new normal. All social groups are now affected by online addiction in varying degrees and suffer from the negative effects. The principles of the Enlightenment as the "Age of Reason" are coming under pressure. The concept of truth is dissolving. Traditional gatekeepers such as competent scientists and serious journalists / authors are being replaced by advertising-financed gatekeepers such as Google and Facebook. Democracies and alliances of states are increasingly losing stability. Can we manage to detox? Tackling online addiction is less a problem of knowledge and more one of acceptance and implementation. The biggest obstacle to overcoming online addiction is ourselves. This book describes the causes and effects of online addiction and presents a comprehensive and group-specific toolkit - including technological tools and elements for effective regulation of the internet industry. This toolbox is intended to help free our children, ourselves, our environment and our society from online addiction so that we can once again make the most of the online and offline worlds. Shaping the future or managing the downfall? We should look positively ahead and act with the necessary determination. Hostility towards technology and cultural pessimism are out of place. We have neglected the risks and side effects of the new technologies of the internet and smartphone / tablet for far too long and should now take countermeasures. Purposeful action is of utmost importance for us personally, for future generations and for the future of all humanity in the 21st century.

Dr. Olaf Wandhöfer hat an der Universität Bonn Chemie studiert und dort auch promoviert. In seiner Funktion als Partner bei der Unternehmensberatung Bain & Company betreute er 13 Jahre lang große Konzerne aus der Technologie-, Medien- und Telekommunikationsindustrie. Darüber hinaus bekleidete Dr. Wandhöfer 11 Jahre lang leitende Management-Positionen in der Finanzindustrie und der Technologiebranche. Seit Oktober 2021 ist Dr. Wandhöfer Privatmann und Senior Advisor. Als Naturwissenschaftler, Technologie-Experte, Unternehmensberater und Manager hat Dr. Wandhöfer die Veränderungen der letzten 10 bis 15 Jahre im Privatleben, im Beruf und in der Gesellschaft als Folge der Online-Sucht mit zunehmender Aufmerksamkeit und Sorge verfolgt. Schließlich ist in ihm der Entschluss gereift, sich dieser Thematik in systematischer Weise anzunehmen. Auf Basis umfangreicher Recherchen und zahlreicher Gespräche mit Betroffenen und Experten beleuchtet er das Thema "Online-Sucht der Menschheit" in einem interdisziplinären Ansatz aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven über verschiedene gesellschaftliche Gruppen hinweg. Den Fokus legt er dabei auf die Entwicklung von konkreten und umsetzbaren Lösungen. ______ Dr Olaf Wandhöfer studied chemistry and received his doctorate at the University of Bonn. As a partner in the management consultancy firm Bain & Company he advised large corporations from the technology, media and telecommunications industries for 13 years. In addition, Dr Wandhöfer held senior management positions in the finance and technology industries for 11 years. Since October 2021, he has been a private citizen and senior advisor. As a natural scientist, technology expert, management consultant and manager, Dr Wandhöfer has followed the changes in private life, work and society over the last 10 to 15 years as a result of online addiction with increasing attention and concern. Finally, after mature consideration, he resolved to address this issue in a systematic way. On the basis of extensive research and numerous discussions with persons affected and experts, he has examined the issue of the online addiction of mankind in an interdisciplinary approach from different perspectives across various social groups. The main focus of his investigation has been on the development of concrete and realisable solutions.