The newly-released Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma,” explores the idea that human behavior has been altered through the existence of technology. By featuring the top executives, designers and engineers from Facebook, Google and Twitter, viewers are given a unique perspective on how they had a hand in changing the behavior and habits of millions of people worldwide.
From the Gmail inbox, the software that makes notifications to pop up on our screens to the order of posts in feeds, we learn that these ideas were not random. They were specifically engineered to help companies bring in revenue and keep the user’s eyes on the screen.
Before technology, no idea or product had the ability to reach millions of users across the world in seconds. Now, not only does technology connect all of us, it governs our ideologies and manipulates us with every article, post, tweet and photo we come across.
As humans, we were not ready for how quickly technology would completely transform our lives. The film touches on shocking statistics regarding the sharp increase in depression and suicide among the young female demographic. There is also a strong correlation between this spike and the time social media became available on mobile phones.
This documentary opens a conversation about the harm social media and other platforms have imposed on our society. It is especially telling to hear this perspective from the exact people who created algorithms that get more and more powerful with every update or installation. It is clear this was not the initial intention of the technology industry.
Reflecting on these negative societal changes is necessary right now. As the film explains, if you are not paying for the product, you are the product. Programmers develop algorithms to keep our attention and engagement for as long as possible in order to generate room for advertisers and, ultimately, profit off the user.
As noted in the film, the word “user” is typically associated with a person when drugs are involved. Apps like Facebook, Google, Twitter and Instagram are programmed to be addicting, and our society is falling deeper into the hole. We are being controlled. If this terrifies you, good. It should. The more engagement and attention we give technology, the better these algorithms get at consuming us and creating these compulsive habits.
Presenting an urgent warning isn’t enough. So now what? As one of the many Silicon Valley interviews explains, everyone understands this phenomenon, but nobody is doing anything about it. This alarming issue is universal but growing. It is up to us to stop letting cellphones and computers damage our world.
Between altering our notification settings to overriding recommended articles, posts or videos, our society is desperate to overcome these addictive and robotic machines. Watch the Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma,” learn more about the technology industry and discover mechanisms to outsmart your computer or cellphone.
