Thoughts on "The Social Dilemma"

    Let's talk about the elephant in the virtual room: the hidden risks and perils of our constant use of social media. In a digital world where connectivity reigns supreme, it's crucial to acknowledge the shadow side of our beloved social media platforms. In “The Social Dilemma,” a film released in 2020, the veil over our beloved social media platforms is lifted, leaving no room for doubt. The film alternates between tech experts sharing their experiences at numerous well-known companies and a fictional family encountering the very harsh realities the experts are discussing. While the whole film is kind of disturbing, there are some points I found interesting and want to highlight. 

    I want to start by sharing a quote that appears about 30 minutes into the film. Since it appeared on the screen I haven't been able to shake it. It’s from Yale University professor Edward Tufte and it goes, “There are only two industries that call their customers ‘users’: illegal drugs and software.” Let that sink in for a second. Illegal drugs and software. I don’t know about you but I feel exposed after reading that. I don’t do illegal drugs but somehow I feel just the same as someone who does. And the worst part is, is that his quote is 100 percent correct. People are addicts when it comes to social media and technology, but it’s not all our fault. 

    Major tech companies like Facebook and Google use our own psychology against us. Using Artificial Intelligence and other technologies, they learn about our patterns and movements on our devices. They know what alerts have the highest success rate when it comes to getting us to log on and which advertisements will get us to continue scrolling. One of the tech experts explains it as if they have a voodoo doll of each and every one of us that they’re playing with behind our screens. Another way to look at this is to picture yourself in the movie “The Truman Show.” In the movie, Truman really has no control over his life, the outside forces are controlling his every move.  

    Some claim that social media is a tool, one that helps keep us connected. A tool is meant to help build something, to wait patiently in reserve until it’s called upon. Social media doesn’t wait patiently. It’s constantly calling for you, reminding you, alerting you, never leaving you alone. There’s the argument that tools are sometimes used for harm instead of good and that's true, just as social media can be used for bad it can also be used for good. The difference here is that tools don’t manipulate you, don’t want things from you, they don’t use your own psychology against you. 

    While social media has brought about numerous positive advancements, it has also generated alarming tales of adverse effects. This film, available on Netflix, sounds the alarm on all of the negative effects social media has had on our lives. I believe that if you are someone who uses social media, even if it’s not frequent, you should give this a watch and really reflect on how social media has controlled your life. 

    One last thing that I found interesting but didn’t know how to include in my post is that you can get addicted to checking your email. I never thought of my email as a social media platform let alone being one you could get addicted to. But after watching this film it’s pretty clear how and why that happens.