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Thanks to testimonies of former Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest employees, The Social Dilemma explores the dangers of the algorithms they have created, raising issues like fake news, use of data, addiction, or even its impact on mental health. (Available on Netflix)

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If something is a tool, it genuinely is just sitting there, waiting patiently. If something is not a tool, it’s demanding things from you.

The Social Dilemma

THE SOCIAL DILEMMA REVIEW IN SHORT

I don’t regret watching The Social Dilemma and maybe everyone should see this documentary, but I found it slightly superficial, boring and over-dramatised. Netflix inserted videos between the interviews, including archives and fiction scenes that they filmed to give it more of a film look. And it didn’t quite convince me.

Jeff Orlowski wants to persuade us that we should panic throughout general statements, short footages and segments of an exaggerated fiction. And all that without really explaining the mechanisms.

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HOW I PICKED THIS DOCUMENTARY

Surprisingly coming across a film review in my LinkedIn feed

Netflix’s on, I don’t know what to expect at all. The Social Dilemma starts with the set up of interviews of former employees from the biggest social platforms, as promised by my new favourite LinkedIn connection. Should I take out some popcorn? Because it pretty much seems to me like Facebook & co are going to be hauled over the coals!

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN

A one-sided documentary touching on some sore points

4 issues with social media

DISINFORMATION

The Social Dilemma raises the question of disinformation, a subject that is also discussed in Julia Ebner’s book Going Dark.

The spread of fake news is one of the many dangers related to the Internet. And far beyond conspiracy theories like flat-earthers ones, or the “Pizzagate” -that I totally discovered thanks to this film-, there are way more dangerous ones that extremists use and create to radicalize you.

Fake news on Twitter spread six times faster.

PRIVACY

I felt like Netflix was trying to set an anxiety-provoking environment by revealing that our data is used by social platforms and that they know everything about us. Since I’m working in the digital marketing industry, that seemed pretty obvious to me. I know how Google, Facebook, Instagram algorithms work and yes, everything that you do is monitored. But that’s the game.

If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product.

However, I’m completely aware that some people don’t know about all this. This way, it’s important that they do so that they can continue, or stop, in full knowledge of the cause.

It’s true that Facebook ads can be targeted so well that if you’re selling revolutionary audio prothesis and you want people who are interested in audio prothesis to know about them, Facebook will advertise your product to them very efficiently. But it’s not always a useful and needed product, and it’s sometimes even ideas, ones that manipulate, brainwash and get into people’s head.

ADDICTION

This was the most interesting part of The Social Dilemma for me.

Some researches studied addiction linked with smartphones, over-connection or social media… Especially for teens, which can lead to low self-esteem, low impulse control, anxiety and depression. But in theory, if you use it wisely, the impact of social media on your life is quite positive. The internet allows you to keep in touch with your friends or show you what you’re interested in.

The problem, though, is that you can easily become addicted to your phone, and sometimes without even realising it. You’re not always aware that it’s too much. The real issue is when you don’t have control over your phone and social media use. And of course, Facebook, Twitter and all of them understand your psychological responses and use them.

As for me, I’m very strict about it. I realised that all the notifications that I received were like a chosen to-do list, and I had the need to clear it constantly. So I tend to watch content that is either actually teaching me something, or that I was looking for in the first place. I try avoiding the constant appeal of newer and better content.

If you answered yes to at least 3 questions, you might want to be careful about your phone use. If you answered yes to more than 5 questions, you might want to put strict rules to reduce a bit your disconnection from the real world. Let me know your results in the comments!

SOCIAL APPROVAL

Another very important issue raised by The Social Dilemma is the impact of social approval through social media on mental health and self-esteem. What you’re told by others becomes the truth, even when it’s all fake. And this is the danger of it, especially for teens.

Whether it is LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, most of the time people ONLY show you what they want to show you.

More and more influencers try raising awareness about what’s fake and what’s not, with pictures of themselves looking very good and other non-edited ones or taken from a less advantageous angle. Whether it is LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, most of the time people ONLY show you what they want to show you. They only display the best angle of their life, and sometimes make it all up!

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WHAT DID I GET OUT OF THE DOCUMENTARY THE SOCIAL DILEMMA?

My mom always used to say when I was a kid ‘When you watch TV, look at the time because you’ll realize how fast it goes’.
When she asks me what I did last Sunday, I don’t want to have to answer ‘Well, I’ve spent my day watching what everyone else was spending their day at’.

• Algorithms, especially Youtube’s one, can be very triggering for people inclined to fall for conspiracy theories. The Pizzagate is a clear illustration of it.
• The social media industry needs regulation. People need to try regulating themselves, but social media and the Internet need to be regulated. While you might just be using YouTube for make-up tutorials, some people are getting trapped in extremist groups or lose their self-esteem.
• Be critical. Always question what you hear or read, verify the info, discuss it.
• Take time to disconnect: remember to enjoy real life. Overall, you need to be strict about your phone consumption. You can set time management of your apps, reduce notifications, and look at the time.

Keep in mind that this documentary is clearly one-sided though. 

If you’ve seen it, what did YOU get out of this documentary? Did you enjoy reading this documentary review? Leave a comment below, and reach me on Instagram @just.another.good.story or by email at justanothergoodstory@gmail.com

I personally find it genius how algorithms manage to predict behaviours or even write books. Ok, it can sound a bit scary, but it is fascinating to me. Give me your opinion about all this, I would really like to hear it!
Did this movie scare you, made you slow down your social media use, left you indifferent…?

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BONUS

One sentence in French about The Social Dilemma that you can learn by heart to show off:
“Un film dont le discours alarmiste frôle parfois le mélodrame mais rappelle malgré tout certaines vérités sur les dangers liés à l'usage des réseaux sociaux."

Post an Instagram story of you saying this sentence with your best French accent and tag me! I’ll watch and repost every single one of them!
Or simply leave me a comment telling me using Google translate how you would translate this sentence. As a French living in the UK with an Italian guy, I’m an expert at giving a completely different sense to what people say. Let me read what your brain made up!

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I really hope that you enjoyed reading this documentary review!
If you’re interested in how disinformation is spread through social media, you could enjoy reading Julia Ebner’s book!
Come back soon
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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is a social dilemma in psychology?

‘Broadly defined, social dilemmas involve a conflict between immediate self-interest and longer-term collective interests. These are challenging situations because acting in one’s immediate self-interest is tempting to everyone involved, even though everybody benefits from acting in the longer-term collective interest.’
The psychology of social dilemmas: A review, Paul A.M.Van Lange, JeffJoireman, Craig D.Parks, EricVan Dijk.

Is The Social Dilemma kid-friendly?

The Social Dilemma might not be for kids under 10, but it’s completely acceptable for older kids in my opinion. There are few swearings, non-suggestive content, maybe a bit of violence. Definitely not too bad, could even be instructive for teens.

Who is in the cast of The Social Dilemma documentary?

THE SPEAKERS:
Tristan Harris, former design ethicist at Google.
Aza Raskin helped to launch the Center for Humane Technology.
Justin Rosenstein, former Google product manager and Facebook engineering lead.
Shoshana Zuboff, author and professor at Harvard University, specialising in the digital revolution.
Jaron Lanier, former Microsoft employee.
Tim Kendall, former Director of Monetization at Facebook and former president of Pinterest.
Rashida Richardson, former Facebook employee.
Renée DiResta, technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory.
Anna Lembke, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University Medical Center.

THE ACTORS:
Skyler Gisondo, Ben in the documentary.
Kara Hayward, playing the role of Cassandra.
Vincent Kartheiser, the artificial intelligence in this documentary.
Sophia Hammons, playing Isla.

What to watch after Food Choices?

Check out my other film reviews & find out what to watch next!