THE SOCIAL DILEMMA

BY: Sarah J. Kings

The Social Dilemma peels the wool back and reveals the canines that social media platforms have sunken into society’s throat. Directed by Jeff Orlowski, it originally debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival. This documentary discusses ethics, data privacy, and the idea that human “users” unknowingly become products for sale. In the film itself, viewers hear haunting stories of regret and fear from former executives at technology companies like Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and Twitter. Released on Netflix on September 9th, 2020, The Social Dilemma should be essential viewing. 

The Problem

The documentary opens with a rather ominous quote from Sophocles. “Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse.” Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google, and now co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, outlines the “curse” of current social media platforms. He explains, “If the product is free, you’re the product.” The algorithms– designed by a handful of people in Silicon Valley– run using highly sophisticated AI and explicitly designed to manipulate users’ actions and thoughts. This manipulation is a design feature, not an unforeseen consequence. Shoshana Zuboff– Harvard University Professor– explains that this is a business that trades in “human futures,” with devastating effects on society. 

Politics & Polarization 

This manipulation and impact on human actions extend beyond commercial ads resulting in ‘users’ spending more money than they should. The suggestions are designed to be insular and isolating, and the outcome is global polarization. Seemingly designed to ‘preach to the choir,’ algorithms at Facebook, Google, and Twitter do more than predict behavior. They influence and change our interests, behaviors, and beliefs. This model has successfully turned everyday people into prey for those looking to influence politics and spread propaganda. The film explains how social media algorithms lead to political unrest, genocide, and division within nations. Former President of Pinterest, Tim Kendall, said, “in the shortest time horizon, I’m most worried about civil war.”

The Effect on Our Youth

In an eye-opening quote, the film states, “there are only two industries that call their customers’ users’: illegal drugs and software.” Considering how many ‘users’ of social media are children, this is particularly alarming. The data points to increased mental health issues and suicides that directly correspond to social media and mobile phone usage. These numbers also indicate that young female students use social media the most.

The Solution 

The film calls for more regulation on big tech companies and clearly says that they cannot regulate themselves. It also suggests that ‘users’ turn off notifications to avoid being targeted by rabbit holes created to tabulate opposing viewpoints. At PROVOKR, we think the real solution lies in a new design for social media. We need to let go of the devil that we know. We need to ditch social media that promote anxiety, depression, mental health issues, and isolation. As ‘users’, we don’t want to be used. It’s time for a new social media platform that centers on people’s health and freedom.