Though biased and partial
, the documentary directed by Jeff Orlowski is a “necessary warning”. Yes, technology is evolving exponentially and tech giants are becoming scarily powerful. A movie like ‘TSD’ is useful to surface the debate, warn our kids and of course, to rethink and fine tune digital tools.
At the core of Facebook’s rebuttal, “What ‘The Social Dilemma’ Gets Wrong,” is that the
documentary offers a sensationalist view of how social platforms work via insights and commentary from former employees of tech giants
who haven’t been on the “inside” for many years.
The Social Dilemma itself exhibits all three
forms of Fogg’s persuasive intent
. And most people agree that this a positive example of persuasive technology. … There needs to be an overarching, systemic agreement that persuasive technology must be done ethically and responsibly.
But where the film excels with hard facts and first-hand accounts from Big Tech companies, it fails at creating a convincing drama element. As the film progresses, it interweaves its interviews with
a dramatized portrayal of a high schooler’s addiction to his phone
.
The Social Dilemma focuses on how big social media companies manipulate users by using algorithms that encourage
addiction
to their platforms. It also shows, fairly accurately, how platforms harvest personal data to target users with ads – and have so far gone largely unregulated.
What is The Social Dilemma trying to tell us?
Our Attention is the Product
“The Social Dilemma” tells us that
many social media companies succeed by capturing as much of our attention as they can, then selling that attention to the highest bidders
. As the saying goes, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.
In summary
The Social Dilemma focuses on
how big social media companies manipulate users by using algorithms that encourage addiction to their platforms
. It also shows, fairly accurately, how platforms harvest personal data to target users with ads – and have so far gone largely unregulated.
Social dilemmas arise when an individual receives a higher payoff for defecting than cooperating when everyone else cooperates. … A great example of a social dilemma is
to imagine yourself out with a group of your friends for dinner
. Before the meal, you all agree to share the cost equally.
Fantastic performances, compelling story for teens and up. Powerful docu addresses
critically important issue for kids
.
The Social Dilemma is a 2020 American docudrama film directed by Jeff Orlowski and
written by Orlowski, Davis Coombe, and Vickie Curtis
.
Directed by Jeff Orlowski, the 93-minute film
combines real-life interviews with a fictionalised story
about the effects of social media on an American family. The docu-drama begins with a series of ominous statements.
The Social Dilemma only allows for one conclusion: if we allow
these platforms to continue harvesting data to sell ads advertisements and to continue controlling our lives with algorithms while neglecting questions of ethics
, then they will be our demise.
Why should I watch The Social Dilemma?
The Social Dilemma makes us aware of
just HOW strong the link between social media and degrading mental health is
. Increasing rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and even suicide, are all the result of social media. … The Social Dilemma breaks this down beautifully and it needs to be seen.
At the same time,
mental health
has declined & studies show that social media can increase feelings of loneliness, FOMO (fear of missing out), and unhealthy comparison to other people and their seemingly “perfect lives.”
A well-known example of a real-world social dilemma is
the problem of over-fishing
, Whereas individual fishermen may be tempted to fish as much as they can, if they all do so the fish population might become depleted, which it detrimental to all fishermen. But over-fishing is only one of many examples.
