Portfolio reflection

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How "The Social Dilemma" Affects Those Who Utilize Technology

Tiara Richards

Professor O’Brien

ENC 1101

03/17/2023

How "The Social Dilemma" Affects Those Who Utilize Technology

Introduction

The video explores the dark side of social networking and how it manipulates its users for its gain. Former employees of major digital companies including Facebook, Google, and Twitter discuss the inner workings of their former employers' platforms and the impact they have on society in this documentary. This review will analyze how well "The Social Dilemma" warns people about the risks of using social media and what influence such warnings had on the audience.

Target Audience 

This review is for anyone interested in how technology affects society, especially social media users who may be worried about the bad effects of these platforms. It's also written for teachers and parents who want to know how to shield their kids from the negative effects of the internet.

Criteria

1. Efficiency in informing the public about how social media can hurt culture.

2. Affirmation of the reliability of the documentary's contents.

3. The documentary can motivate people to adopt more ethical practices when using technology.

Evaluation

The Social Dilemma is an eye-opening documentary that effectively shows the dark side of social media. Ex-employees of several digital companies are interviewed in the video to shed light on the platforms' manipulative practices. The documentary highlights the risks associated with social media use, including addiction, the spread of false information, and the effects of echo chambers produced by algorithmic decision-making. The documentary is accessible to viewers with varied degrees of technological literacy due to the use of visual aids and animations to illustrate complex ideas.

Others have criticized the documentary, claiming that it gives an unbalanced portrayal of social media when in fact it just shows one side of the issue. A lot of the topics brought up in the documentary have been examined and validated by other sources, and the video has sparked critical dialogues about the role of technology in society. The majority of American citizens (64%) agree that social media primarily negatively impacts news coverage, according to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center.

Despite its strengths, "The Social Dilemma" falls short of fully addressing the problems caused by social media. Yet, the video fails to address the bigger societal concerns that contribute to these problems and instead concentrates on the effects of social media on individuals. For instance, the video doesn't delve into the political and economic structures that give tech firms lax regulation and monitoring. And because it doesn't offer any answers to the issues it raises, the video risks leaving its audience feeling helpless and frustrated.

One such complaint with "The Social Dilemma" is that it ignores the positive features of social media in favor of the negative ones. The rise of social media has been crucial in raising awareness about important political and social issues and getting people involved in political and social movements. While the negative effects of social media are certainly real, it's also crucial to highlight the beneficial uses of these channels.

Despite these limitations, "The Social Dilemma" has made a profound impact on the technological sector and wider society. The video has stimulated vital discussions on the significance of technology in our daily lives and the need for stricter oversight and greater accountability on the part of social media firms. There have been calls for stricter regulation of these corporations and demands for more openness about their activities since the video's debut. Some internet businesses heard the message and have introduced new features and regulations to address the problems highlighted in the movie.

Even more importantly, "The Social Dilemma" has motivated people to take steps to safeguard their privacy and reduce their reliance on social media. The documentary stresses the importance of being cautious while using the internet and taking measures to safeguard one's identity and data. Many people have taken precautions to reduce their time spent on social media as a result of this heightened knowledge of privacy and cybersecurity concerns.

It has opened up vital discussions about the significance of technology in our daily lives and the need for greater oversight and accountability on the part of social media firms. The documentary has also encouraged viewers to take measures to better safeguard their personal information and reduce their time spent on social media, all of which contribute to making the internet a more secure and responsible place for everyone to enjoy. One important effect of "The Social Dilemma" is the possibility that it will motivate people to use technology more constructively.

The video exhorts viewers to preserve their privacy and utilize social media more thoughtfully. Regulating and holding social media corporations accountable for the content produced on their networks is another theme of the video. Following the documentary's release, social media businesses have been under closer scrutiny, with some responding by taking action to solve the problems it highlights. Example: Facebook now offers a tool that lets users examine what ads they're being served and how those ads were selected.

Conclusion

"The Social Dilemma" is a powerful documentary that successfully raises awareness about social media's harmful impact on society. Even though some viewers find fault with the video's facts, it has still stimulated thoughtful debate about the impact of technology on modern life. It has the potential to motivate people to make positive changes in their technology use, and it shows viewers how to be more responsible with their social media and privacy settings. 'The Social Dilemma' is a call to awareness, reminding us all to consider how our use of social media affects ourselves and the world around us.

Reference

Koblin, J. (2020, September 21). 'The Social Dilemma': A Wake-Up Call About a Nightmare World. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/movies/the-social-dilemma-review.html

Orlowski, J. (Director). (2020). The Social Dilemma [Documentary]. United States: Exposure Labs.