The Social Dilemma Film
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The Social Dilemma Film
The social dilemma is a documentary film written by Jeff Orlowski, Dave Coombe, and Vickie Curtis. The film aims to discuss the effect of social media platforms and the internet on their users. A series of interviews with some of these big companies’ former engineers discuss the amount of attention paid to their inventions’ social outcomes.
It begins with a series of interviews with the engineers associated with these social media companies. They state some of their grievances and give an insight into what happens inside the technology companies. The film also mentions the numerous benefits of social media, such as enhancing interpersonal relations (ZDoggMD, 2020). The former employees provide insight into how these social media platform users’ personal information is utilized and optimized to predict users and create advertisements for monetary purposes. To quote Daniel Hovermann, he says, “If you are not paying for the product, then you are the product.” The film then elaborates on these platforms’ manipulation technology to facilitate addiction and psychological issues caused by social media.
It also explains the adverse consequences of social media addiction. Edward Tufte says, “There are only two industries that call their customers “users”: illegal drugs and software.” The statistics provided in the film reveal that since the introduction of social media platforms in 2009, there has been an exponential rise in the cases of psychological issues presented. The statistics showed a 72% increase in the number of suicides for females aged between 15-19 and a 151% increase in females 10-14 around the time social media was introduced (ZDoggMD, 2020). Additionally, a 62% increase in the number of hospitalized females between the ages 15 and 19 and a 189% increase of females between the ages of 10-14 due to self-harm.
The film elaborates on the process of social media addiction. Social media users often check their platforms, whether on Twitter, Instagram, Google, and others. They eventually grow dependent on these platforms to be their source of entertainment. In the absence of the internet or power, they become distressed. Social media serves as a drug. When exposed to any platform, the user’s brains release a chemical known as dopamine, the pleasure chemical. Before they know it, they cannot go hours or even minutes without social media.
Additionally, social media as idealized some things and deemed others as abnormal. For example, pictures of the perfect body on social media platforms, the ideal life, the perfect spouse or family (ZDoggMD, 2020). Therefore, anyone with less or anything that deviates from these social media ideals feels inadequate and is in constant pursuit of unachievable perfection. These eventually lead to depression.
The film also touches on artificial intelligence, its use. The interviewees elaborate on the advancement that has been made in the matters of artificial intelligence. Lastly, the film discusses social media’s role in spreading false news and how they affect individuals and communities. It also shows how social and political propaganda can result in conflicts or even wars.
In conclusion, the film sorts to provide insight into the many dangers of social media. The main focus points are the manipulation tactics used by medial social platforms for monetary gain and social media users’ psychological risks. The film suggests that to control these social media platforms, taxations should be imposed on the social data media manipulates to lower the incentives gained.
References
ZDoggMD. (2020, September 22). The Social Dilemma, Explained. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMsrqfU-068