Why the 2020 Netflix Documentary Social Dilemma is still relevant and would be in the future too . . .

Harihar Muni

Still from the Netflix docu. . Social Dilemma

Today what is the most powerful tool we humans have? A tool that can bring the world to the tip of your finger, A tool that helps you connect to a larger boundary and understand the world. Yes, you are correct it’s the Social Media and its products (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat n more). Social Media has become the most important part of our life, Earlier the basic needs of people were food clothing and shelter, and TV but now all those have been modified and have added a very much important thing known as social media. It was introduced to the world around ten years ago when only the developers knew what is social media and how it works, what are its pros and cons, Is it a solution for all the problems or a dilemma? Yes, you read it right social media can be a dilemma. To understand why exactly social media is called dilemma you need to watch the Netflix released 2020 documentary called Social Dilemma which is directed by JEFF ORLOWSKI on Netflix. It would make you understand how this medium can also be a threat and a disaster to mankind. Here is me sharing why social media is called a Horror and how relevant the documentary is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaaC57tcci0 (Trailer)

• SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE DRUG.

In this documentary, there is a quote which made me think like seriously we all consume drugs and we all are addicted to it, not the real one but a virtual which is as harmful as toxic substances, There are only two industries that call their customers “users” illegal drugs and software’s”. – Edward Tufte.  We are so much addicted to the big and small screens that our minds stop working and thinking more or do something creative and unique and express our talents or learn something new but, we all are busy scrolling up and down. There have been reports where young kids are getting glasses more frequently compared to people who are in their 50s. In the documentary TIM KENDALL – CEO of Moment, and Former President of Pinterest shares that When you know that we are the man behind these products and have been developing day night and we ourself are falling its prey and that’s scary”, I couldn’t spend more time with my kids, they need me still I’m busy checking my emails and messages. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat has huge users of kid and teens which make them an addict as they scroll all day and nightfall sick stop eating our try searching friends on these platforms but, they don’t know that they aren’t controlling the platforms or phones but the phones are.

• THEY ARE THE NEW AGE MAGICIANS

Giving the example of Magicians and psychologist TRISTAN HARRIS- Google Former Design Ethicist shares that Magicians understand something, some part of your mind that we are not aware of, that’s what makes the illusion work”

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic- Arthur C. Clarke

Still from the Netflix documentary

This is called persuasive technology. Persuasive technology means they modify human behavior which means the more you refresh and scroll the newer information it would show into your feed and keep you engaged. The engagement counts, how much you invest your time viewing the photo, video, or posts (when you search something or view any video, your likes and comments make them understand that you liked this kind of genre of photos or videos and then they give you those kinds of videos and photos, scary isn’t it? It can also be said that we all are always manipulated by them and it’s not us who we think to get those photos or videos but it’s the designers who purposely add those into our feed to earn profit. They predict that a certain boy/girl would like this particular photo or video and if we react the same by liking or commenting on it then they earn from their predictions.

• SOCIAL MEDIA IS PLAYING WITH YOUR EMOTIONS

 You might too have experienced the same at a point in your life, that when you upload a video or a photo of yours adding a filter or editing it, and you upload it to your Facebook, or Instagram account and when once you upload you start receiving comments, and likes. If you receive fewer likes or pretty unsatisfying engagements on your uploaded picture or video then that turns out to make you sad, you start questioning yourself and if you receive hate speech, or someone trolls you for your looks and appearance then it may also, cause mental illness and later it will depress you which also turns to be tragic like children cut off their wrist or commit suicide. 

Stills from Netflix documentary 

                        

Gen Z kids born after 1996 are the first once or only generation who got into social media in middle school – JONATHAN HAIDT (Ph.D.).

• FACEBOOK AND TWITTER HUB OF FAKE NEWS

Another quote from this documentary that kept me thinking for a very long time and I had nothing but to agree, ROGER McNamee (Facebook Early Investor) says If you want to control the population of your country there has never been a tool as effective as Facebook. The spread of fake news or the elections held by Facebook polls, Facebook, and Twitter have played a very important role during the elections of any country example- 2014 elections in India had a huge impact on teens and major of the voters as they were very much influenced by the political parties digital, or social media campaign. In the current situation when the pandemic was new to the world much fake news was spreading, myths where been trending (like drinking boiled water would kill the viruses). Also, Tristan says that There is a study in MIT that fake news spread six times faster than true news.

The Ugly Truth of Facebook 

• IS THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA SAFE?

It is said that a coin has two sides the heads and the tail, same the initial idea of making this and developing these platforms was not made for the destruction of the world, it was actually to share and give the world some positivity but, at times changes it had proved in history that inventions and technology always made some destructions, and change is the only solution. As said that it’s the critics who drive improvement and it’s the critics who are the through optimists. There would be a change and there have to.

This documentary is eye-opening for every social media addict, or people who easily get manipulated or influenced by whatever displays on the screen, one of the most important subjects which Netflix has brought to the world, Again, a reminder you shouldn’t miss this one. The following information or views are personal opinions not preaching. If you have any suggestions or recommendations feel free to comment down also, and you reader can connect with me through my Instagram handle is @iamsamihar.