The Social Dilemma

Have you ever wondered why the “typing…” message we see when the other person is replying to our comment appears? Social media is an extremely powerful tool in today’s world, and especially after the global pandemic this tool has become a lifeline to connect with your loved ones and people around the world. The docu-drama “The Social Dilemma” provides a whole new perspective on social media.

The Social Dilemma is a 93-minute documentary film directed by Jeff Orlowski. Available on Netflix, the film features interviews with high profile innovation leaders who have previously worked with global tech giants such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram etc. These experienced executives explain how these platforms are controlled by algorithms and how these algorithms use our psychology against us. The tech giants are in a constant tussle for users’ attention – and capture user information, which in turn is used almost against users – through advertisements; with the attempt to make them believe what they want them to.

As Jeff Seibert, a former leader at Twitter puts it, “What I want people to know is that everything they’re doing online is being watched, is being tracked, is being measured.” The documentary also raises the issue that these practices are unethical because of the negative impact they can have on self-esteem and mental health of young adults, especially from Gen Z.

By now I am sure you must have discovered the hidden fact about “typing…” – this is to keep us engaged on the platform for longer time periods, to enable the platforms to collect even more information about the user. I would recommend watching this documentary as it will help us to reflect on our own social media habits! Here are some habits that I changed after watching this documentary:

1. Reduce my screentime – track my time
2. Set time limits for all social media apps that I use
3. Examine cookies carefully before I give permissions
4. Think before posting anything on social media platforms