'The Social Dilemma': Release date, plot, trailer and all you need to know about the Netflix docu on the dangers of social media
Technology has come a long way and with the advent of the Internet, people have become accustomed to a life where they have everything at their fingertips. One of the most widely used and cherished developments fostered by the Internet is social media, that has made global communication easy. The benefits of social media are endless, but they evidently overshadow the dark side of the web. The dependence on social media has increased from a mere interactive tool to a source of validation and media presence. What we fail to realize is that now it has become an indispensable part of our lives, where a 'like' and 'share' has become our definition of real value.
The people on the other side, particularly the creators of these behemoths, are well aware of our social media use and iuse it to their advantage. What many fail to notice is that social media renders one vulnerable to not only privacy concerns and online abuse but even mental health problems. Furthermore, they are very instrumental in the formation of public and political opinion, if the 2016 presidential election and Cambridge Analytica cases are anything to go by. They deepen biases, manipulate thought and opinion and so much more, contributing to a drastic shift in your perception of the world.
Now a new Netflix documentary 'The Social Dilemma' is pulling back the curtain on the hidden and devastating consequences of using social media. Here is everything you need to know about it.
Release date
'The Social Dilemma', will be available globally on September 9 on Netflix.
Plot
'The Social Dilemma' delves into the more detrimental side of social media. While we know of online trolls that wreak havoc on everyday lives hiding behind a computer screen, the film essentially shifts the villainous perspective towards social media that boos this behavior. We may think that social media is a product and we are the consumers, as it was created to be. But that has inadvertently changed and the roles have reversed to us, consumers being the product. The 93-minute film features interviews with a variety of tech whizzes who helped build social media including Tristan Harris, the president and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology; Justin Rosenstein, co-creator of the Facebook 'like' button; Tim Kendall, president of Pinterest; and Jaron Lanier, Microsoft researcher.
The unscripted film highlights how tech masterminds developed a form of capitalism that practically feeds off humanity, by creating social media. This powerful and camouflaged form of artificial intelligence captures the user's attention, debases social norms, jeopardizes truths and the democracy and basically detonating a time-bomb that is self-destruction. 'The Social Dilemma' is set in the dark underbelly of the Silicon Valley and combines investigative elements with an insightful narrative drama. It comprises expert opinions from tech whistleblowers who air out the dirty laundry of some services that Big Tech provides including search engines, networks, information, etc. They explain how users are drawn to these platforms like a moth to a flame. Once they are in there is no going back.
Creators
Jeff Orlowski, Director
A filmmaker and environmentalist, Jeff Orlowski is best-known for his Emmy award-winning documentaries 'Chasing Ice' (2012) and 'Chasing Coral' (2017). An alum of Stanford University, Orlowski directed and produced two short films while studying anthropology. He has worked with Apple, National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute, while his work has been featured on Netflix, National Geographic Channel, CNN, and NBC, along with New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and NPR.
'The Social Dilemma' is produced by Laurie David and co-produced by Daniel Wright. Heather Reisman, David J. Cornfield, Linda A. Cornfield, Ryan Ahrens, Jill Ahrens, Ben Renzo, Lynda Weinman, Bruce Heavin, Hallee Adelman, and Ivy Herman serve as executive producers. Shannon O'Leary Joy, Lou Buglioli, Natalie Orfalea, Ken Grossinger, Micheline Klagsbrun, David Stone and David Boies III are co-executive producers.
Trailer
“The Social Dilemma” premiered at the annual Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 in the Documentary Premieres section. The Netflix documentary delves deep into the detrimental side of popular social media sites.
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