My take: The Social Dilemma
We watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix this weekend (see link below). "This documentary-drama hybrid explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations."
We thought it was good (not perfect, of course). Here are my takeaways:
- If you're not paying for the product, you are the product.
- A small handful of white, 25-35 year old guys in Silicon Valley have a hugely out-sized impact on the behavior of 2+ billion people.
- What's being monetized is not our data, per se. Rather, it's our attention and ability to manipulate our behavior.
- Yes, the impact on children and teens is serious, but we are all vulnerable.
- Our information diet is so dramatically managed, it's like we live in our own version of The Truman Show (see link below).
- Google search is a manipulative as your Facebook feed.
I hope this is sparks a continuing conversation and, of course, The Social Dilemma is not perfect. This critique in Slate (The Social Dilemma Fails to Tackle the Real Issues in Tech - link below) offers excellent points. For example, the film's interviews focused on former Silicon Valley engineers and executives ignoring the many long-time critics of tech's business practices and product design.
Finally, this is a bigger issue than merely being addicted to our phones. Sure, there are opportunities for new practices with technology but virtue-signaling our low screen time isn't going to be helpful. The arsenal pointed at us is to great to not push for real fundamental change.
What do you think?
The Social Dilemma
https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224
The Truman Show
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120382/
Slate: The Social Dilemma Fails to Tackle the Real Issues in Tech
https://slate.com/technology/2020/09/social-dilemma-netflix-technology.html
Business Coach to Family-Run Businesses and Executives
4 年Hi Tad...good summary of the Documentary. Building on your summary, I was impacted by: the extent to which social media is helping to divide our society; the range of answers (often opposing "truths") given to any particular search term typed into Google and other engines; the feeling of those 'experts' who were interviewed that the AI is now understood by so few of those running the social media companies; how they feel the AI is learning beyond preconceived notions; the ease with which world political competitors/enemies can use the platforms to disseminate their misinformation; and the lack of critical thinking that is applied by users of the social media platforms. I felt like I was watching 2001: A Space Odyssey especially re HAL. I will watch this documentary a few more times...