Adam Alter opens by extending addiction research beyond traditional substance-based addiction into behavioral addiction specifically connected to digital technology and app design, arguing these behavioral patterns share genuine addictive characteristics with substance addiction.

Why extending addiction concepts to digital technology matters:

• Traditional addiction research and public understanding historically focused primarily on substance-based addiction, potentially underappreciating genuine addictive patterns in digital technology engagement
• Alter's research argues these behavioral patterns share genuine underlying psychological and even neurological similarities with substance addiction, warranting serious concern
• This opening establishes the book's foundational thesis, motivating its subsequent detailed examination of how digital technology specifically produces these addictive patterns

This opening establishes the book's foundational thesis, extending genuine addiction concepts beyond substance-based addiction into digital technology engagement specifically.