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Been watching that show on Netflix “The Social Dilemma”? So many people have been talking about it and saying that it’s making them want to get off Facebook and other social media.
There is a lot of truth in the program and a lot of fiction.
Social media is big business that manipulate us.
There is also a lot wrong with the program. Here’s some of the things that stood out to me:
🎯 It’s not actually a documentary, its a drama-documentary, which means that its part fact and and part drama script (fiction).
🎯 It only offers one side of the issue- ironically much like the social media posts that it is condemning.
🎯 Where are the balanced experts and the evidence in the program. There is a lot of fear mongering happening in the program.
Our uses of technology is a highly sensitive issue for us and we worry what it is doing to us. But REAL information and fact is important to seek out.
The program has truth in it such as the dark patterns on social media that manipulate us. That tiny red dot we see on our Linkedin app is designed to keep us opening the app. Social media companies use these tactics, businesses and individuals use them, all to try to keep us on their site/app and buying.
The issue is that The Social Dilemma presents itself as a trusted authority but if we dig deep we see the program is manipulating us. The claims it makes such as adolescence self-harm and suicide are because of social media is ridiculously simplistic and misses the complexity of these suicide and self-harm. No evidence is given to support this claim (because there is none), and other claims they make.
The program uses scripted content/ominous music/catch phrases/dated workers to strengthen their points.
This program gives lots of food for thought and is scary. There is no balance however to the tech is bad angle. Fear sells. It’s done the job it wants to achieve and that is to get you to talk about the their program.
Digital Literacy is seeing through these strategies they use to capture our attention. We can take from the program points of reflection, but being critical of what the real points are amongst the fear mongering and unsubstantiated claims is important. The next step should be to look for balanced information from trustworthy experts and authorities. Then to make an informed decision about your technology use.
What do you think?
BTW with people claiming they will delete Facebook after the watching the Netflix program Facebook’s concerned. So much so that Facebook felt the need to issue a two-page response. See below.
There’s nothing surprising in its responses. The only surprise, is that Facebook felt the need to respond at all which means people will want to watch the show even more.
