The Social Dilemma

The Social Dilemma is a 2020 Netflix documentary that exposes the downfalls and problems of social media. It highlights the disturbing truth that social media can be manipulated. Whether it’s to sell personal data or behavioral manipulation, these platforms are designed to influence users’ decisions without their awareness. The documentary interviews experts from well-known search engines and social media platforms to provide an insider’s perspective on the issue.

As the documentary opens, there’s voices speaking out about how social media platforms have reunited families and found organ donors. However, that conversation quickly shifts into how social media has done more harm by spreading misinformation. While social media has negative effects on people’s mental health, such as creating “Snapchat dysmorphia,” it contributes to unrealistic beauty standards. Surveillance capitalism was also a huge issue discussed in the documentary. Social media platforms require a lot of data, and the surveillance of users is exactly how they’re able to do it.

Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist, expresses that there’s this unspoken problem in the technology industry that doesn’t have a name. An issue that drives human attention, not allowing people to put their phones down. Tristan began to realize that there was no one on his team working to make Gmail less addictive. Instead, it was quite the opposite.

Tim Kendall, a former Facebook executive, defines his role as the director of monetization. All Facebook needed him to do was figure out a way that the platform could generate money and be profitable. His goal was to get people’s attention and see just how much of their life they were willing to give up.

In my opinion, the idea that social media is a power tool to surveillance is scary. It’s gotten to the point where this topic isn’t just talked about in my social media class, but other classes as well. Teachers often ask, “how do you feel that your phone is always listening to you.” It’s phrases such as those that make me stop and think about just how powerful it is. Have you ever talked about a product you wanted and suddenly got an advertisement for it when you open your social media? It’s all a part of a system that craves our attention to drive advertisement views and generate more revenue for companies. In the end, “we’re all lab rats” for these platforms.