The Social Dilemma (2020) Analytical Essay
The rapid rise of social media in the early 21st century has greatly changed human
communication, information seeking and perception of the world. The Social
Dilemma (2020) documentary shows how these platforms work to influence
people’s actions for the company’s gain. By combining accounts from tech experts
and acting scenes, the documentary discusses how social media companies
undermine people’s psychology, mental health and democracy.
The central belief in the documentary is that surveillance capitalism is a business
system that relies on making users' information the main commodity. Facebook,
Google and Twitter are among the tech companies that have grown their
algorithms and use them to collect information with each of your clicks, likes and
scrolls. They are not neutral at all; these algorithms give users content that has
been written to provoke them with strong, negative emotions such as anger and
fear. According to Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist, when you're not
paying for an online service, you are the product. Because of this, we realize social
media is less about reaching out to others and more about making profits by using
our attention.
This system has a strong psychological effect on younger people. It uses strong
evidence to show a link between an increase in adolescent depression, anxiety and
suicide with social media use. Experts mention in the film that these apps work by
dopamine rewards, much like with gambling, to form addiction. An affecting part
of the show shows how a teenage girl’s feelings about herself are affected by likes
on social media and how this can change how adolescents see themselves. Going
overboard with social media was proven in 2019 by a JAMA Psychiatry study,
showing that spending much of your time online leads to more mental health issues
for teens.
One of the film’s main points is that social media can help share misinformation
and harm democratic customs. It reveals how algorithms value involvement more
than correctness, which makes it easier for false reports to travel quickly. The issue
becomes worse because some websites deliver information to users that supports
and mirrors their current views. Those platforms are the first to ever change the
structure of people’s brains and then change the way society works.
The messages shared by those in the film who used to work for tech companies are
unusually critical. Two main issues are found: no real consent is given by users
during data collection and the industry continues to refuse to own up to its role in
harming people. When tech executives switch to regulators and back again, it adds
to the problem since those overseeing the situation are now trying to address it.
While some people think the film is too pessimistic, its main topics are backed by
recent research and real events. Its importance is that it helps explain complicated
technical facts in an engaging way, even to people who know little about social
media. Since the law took effect, it has motivated talks about better digital rules
and various countries have started to apply GDPR-like data laws.
Fixing the mentioned problems needs different types of solutions. People can take
care of their online selves by turning off notifications, spending less time in front
of the screen and examining content before interacting with it. Digital literacy
needs to be taught first in schools to help kids deal with information online.
Enforcement of clear rules that oblige firms to pay greater attention to how their
services influence users is paramount. As we see at the documentary’s finale, we
don’t have to abandon technology; we have to redesign it so it serves people rather
than big businesses. The Social Dilemma aims to shake viewers from their pretend
ignorance, showing people what technology can lead to before it is too late.
