The Social Dilemma

Why do we need a Netflix Documentary to tell us that social media is bad? 

 Story:

There are two stories within this documentary. The main 'A' story interviews creators of social media apps and how they are in shock over the monster of addiction they have created. Their tool for good was corrupted by business models and now is a force for evil. They are unveiling all the secrets put into the drug of social media that makes it so addictive that the audience may understand and realize just how their lives are being manipulated. The B story is about a family, used as an illustration of how social media affects young people’s lives.

The protagonist is the social media creators. They want people to realize that social media has twisted into an addiction, and it’s purposely supposed to be addicting. Everything is standing in their way from allowing this message to be spread. Denial of those using social media will say they can stop whenever they want. Businesses are adding more and more addictive qualities to apps to keep users on them longer. 

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Cinematography:

Some techniques that this documentary used are animation, sci-fi fictional scenes, modern fictional scenes, interviews, voiceover, quotes, and newsreels integrated throughout the fictional scenes.

I think the fictional scenes work to illustrate the point. The family re-enactment made a lot of sense, but the storyline of that family had some plot holes. For example, they set up stakes that the son will give up his phone for a week. Yet on day 3 when he picks up his phone out of curiosity for a text, no consequence is brought to him. His mom or sister don’t say anything and it’s almost like that bet never happened and it was never addressed.

The “AI” sci-fi fictional scenes were a very cool and interesting way to illustrate its point. But it felt like I was watching an episode of Star Trek and not a documentary. It took me out of the movie and I had to remind myself what movie I was watching. 

The biggest note about lighting that stuck out to me was when the son picks up his phone after three days of not using it, and he’s sitting in his room, and red light is all around him. It brings a horror-like element to how he is sinking into an addiction to social media. 

Cultural Relevance:

A lot is going on in this documentary. Is it all culturally relevant, yes.  But is it all correct, I don’t think so. The documentary seems to throw shade at businesses that have corrupted social media and made it a tool of addiction, and I agree. But I felt talked down to in the documentary, not educated. I knew that social media was bad. I knew it had addictive qualities and effects on the younger generation. Yet, the documentary treats me like a simple-minded creature. 

 One critique of this documentary’s perspective is that it does not address human responsibility with social media. I feel the documentary should have addressed how there is a human responsibility as a consumer of social media, and we have a responsibility to take breaks. To realize the social media world isn’t everything. To realize social media is an addiction and learn ways to overcome that addiction. The documentary just seems to blame business corporations and not call to action for which we, as users, are responsible. Should corporations take responsibility for causing early addiction and depression in young people and starting wars…absolutely. But there is a human responsibility to realize social media is fake and take a step back and look outside at what is real. 

Also, why are only “young people” shown to be addicted to their phones? Adults very much can be addicted to it, which has harmful effects on children. Maybe one interviewee spoke about it, but it was not touched on enough.

 Another critique is that it does not address the current well that social media creates. Online friendships are formed, and messages from celebrities can be shared due to social media. When COVID-19 happened, everyone connected on social media because we could not leave our houses. My favorite thing to come out of social media during COVID-19 was the Josh battle. A Facebook group started with everyone named Josh, and they fought to see who was the superior Josh. That could not have happened without social media.