Digital daily life
- Discussion of "brain rot" and the move from text-based to video-saturated environments.
Ask the group
- How has the way you consume information changed over the last few years?
Back to the curriculum
Module
Political Contexts and Digital Ecosystems
How algorithms, memes and the attention economy shape political reality, and how to use video activism without getting played by it.
90 minAttention economyMemes as Trojan horsesClicktivism
By the end you can…
- Identify how the attention economy works and how algorithms shape political reality
- Analyse how humour and "shitposting" carry ideological radicalisation
- Understand the shift from physical to digital political spaces (Discord, Twitch, TikTok…)
- Weigh clicktivism against tangible political action
- Apply the principles of video activism (3-second rule, metrics, emotional hooks) responsibly
About this lessonThis lesson takes a deep look at how political, social and civic life has changed in the age of digital platforms. Society has become "extremely online" across all generations. The lesson introduces "brain rot" (Oxford Word of the Year 2024) to describe minds overwhelmed by algorithmic content.
It traces how digital spaces evolved from the text-based networks of 2010 to the video-dominated landscape of 2025. It frames this shift as a return to an "oral culture", where social videos are the new storytelling campfires.
Participants examine how physical political spaces (youth culture, social centres and squats of the 80s and 90s) have been replaced by digital ones like Discord, Twitch, Reddit and Fortnite.
The lesson covers the dangers of "technofeudalism" (platforms as modern feudal estates) and of "clicktivism" and "slacktivism". It shows how radicalisation works under the hood: memes act as Trojan horses for ideology, and irony and "shitposting" shift the Overton window.
Finally, it unpacks the algorithmic attention economy, rooted in Facebook's 2009 introduction of the algorithmic feed (the internet's "original sin"). It gives participants the psychological and technical strategies of effective video activism.
Session flow
The political digital ecosystem
- The attention economy: algorithmic influence since 2009.
- New political spaces: Discord, Twitch and Reddit as the new "town squares".
- Ideological funnels: how memes act as Trojan horses for radicalisation and shift the Overton window.
Workshop: the anatomy of a viral message
- Analysis of successful video activism.
- Focus on the 3-second rule, pacing and emotional triggers: laughter, anger, belonging.
- Case study: why do we share what we share? Identity building vs. community belonging.
Group activity: dissecting digital influence
Activity
Groups analyse a current viral video or political meme. They identify:
- The intended emotionWhat is the content trying to make you feel?
- The hidden messageIs there an ideological message underneath, if any?
- The algorithmic boostHow did the algorithm likely push this content?
Reflection and closing
Ask the group
- How can we stay critical in a digital-feudal ecosystem?
- Can we use these platforms for good without falling into slacktivism?
Key message
Each participant shares one strategy for being more mindful of algorithmic influence.
Facilitator toolkit
Everything you need to run this session yourself.
Learning outcomes
1Explain the impact of the digital attention economy
- Content
- Attention economy; algorithms as "black boxes"; the role of "brain rot"
- Methods
- Short lecture; visual analysis of social media feeds
- Evaluation
- Class discussion; reflection
2Identify ideological tools in digital media
- Content
- Memes as "Trojan horses"; shitposting; shifting the Overton window
- Methods
- Guided analysis of case studies (memes, videos)
- Evaluation
- Worksheet on ideological messaging
3Evaluate digital activism strategies
- Content
- Clicktivism vs. real-world impact; video activism; psychological triggers
- Methods
- Case study of successful vs. failed digital campaigns
- Evaluation
- Group presentation; peer feedback
Materials
- PresentationPolitical Contexts and Digital Ecosystems
- Case studiesA selection of current TikTok/Reels political content
- Worksheet"Anatomy of an Algorithmic Post": deconstruction template
- Technical equipmentLaptop, projector, internet connection and personal devices for quick research
Evaluation
Active participation in the group analysis, the quality of insights in the worksheets, and a final oral reflection on media responsibility.
Target group
Young people interested in media literacy, digital sociology and activism, especially those active online who want to understand the mechanics behind the content they consume and create.