The documentary uses theatrical reenactments and interviews with former IT workers to make these arguments. These visual and emotional appeals make the idea more relevant to a broad audience. However, some reviewers have worried that the dramatized sequences may oversimplify or exaggerate key issues, undermining the documentary’s trustworthiness. Kubin and Christian. Examines social media disinformation and its effects on societal polarization (Kubin & Christian, 192). This study supports the documentary’s claim that social media usage is harmful. Brett and Selinger’s 2018 book “Re-Engineering Humanity” covers digital technology ethics, including social media. Key to the documentary’s claim, the authors provide important insights into user data exploitation and privacy erosion. This comprehensive review of “The Social Dilemma’s” allegations supports the documentary’s concerns about social media’s influence on society.
Evaluation of The Social Dilemma Argument
“The Social Dilemma” convincingly argues that social media affects society. To assess its efficacy, one must examine the logic, passion, and balance in the documentary’s claim. First, the documentary makes several logical points. It successfully shows how social media algorithms affect user behavior and the risks of echo chambers and filter bubbles. “The Social Dilemma” cites former IT sector insiders to support its allegations. The addictive nature of social media platforms is explained by how algorithms promote user engagement and profit (Pennycook & Rand 4). This logical basis strengthens the documentary’s argument.
While “The Social Dilemma” seems rational, it has flaws. Critics have pointed out narrative oversimplification and dramatization, which might constitute logical errors. While moving, these dramatizations may only partially depict algorithmic decision-making or data harvesting. When assessing the documentary’s reasoning, these critiques must be considered. The documentary uses emotional appeals well. It evokes empathy and concern by showing how social media may affect families and relationships. Former industry insiders’ tales and experiences spark powerful emotions, humanizing the problems and bolstering the case. However, choosing between passion, rationality, and believability is difficult. The documentary’s emotive appeals improve its effect, but overusing them at the cost of reasoning might damage its trustworthiness. Per Pennycook & Rand’s study, balancing passion and logic is essential to persuading viewers (Pennycook & Rand 3).
Opposition and Counterarguments
The documentary’s premise conflicts with the assumption that people are responsible for internet and social media use. Critics say blaming social media corporations for addiction, disinformation, and mental health concerns absolves users of responsibility. They say people may restrict screen time, tailor their online experiences, and fact-check material. However, social media platforms’ persuasive methods and design principles must be discussed to counter this view. “The Social Dilemma” detailed how user involvement and addiction are maximized, making it difficult for users to moderate their online connections. Academic studies like Ekström et al. suggest that social media algorithms cause filter bubbles and disinformation, undermining individual autonomy. The business value of social media firms is another counterargument (Ekström et al. 226). According to this theory, these platforms promote economic development, job creation, and corporate promotion. They claim that excessive regulation or meddling in these corporations’ activities might hurt the economy, reducing innovation and job losses.
In response, it is essential to stress social media firms’ ethical obligations. Although they boost the economy, they also affect society. Regulation may promote ethical innovations that benefit users. Mahoney et al. argue that social media businesses should be held responsible for their social repercussions by balancing technical innovation with ethical concerns in the digital age. Recognizing the intricacy of the problems is essential to showing fairness (Mahoney et al. 229). Despite its advantages, social media has had severe drawbacks. Open debate about these platforms’ pros and negatives is necessary to create solutions that balance individual liberties, economic interests, and society’s well-being.
Role of Social Media Companies
Social media firms’ involvement in addressing “The Social Dilemma” is crucial. The documentary emphasizes their social influence and urges these firms to take aggressive steps to lessen the negative impacts of their platforms. Social media businesses should actively prevent fake news and disinformation. The documentary correctly shows how algorithms multiply misinformation, polarize society, and undermine faith in reliable sources. To solve this, social media platforms should improve fact-checking, algorithmic transparency, and responsible information sharing. According to Pennycook and Rand (2020), social media misrepresentation must be addressed. Crowdsourced evaluations of news source quality show that platforms must emphasize credible sources. This aligns with the documentary’s argument that social media companies should act as gatekeepers to ensure the accuracy of content circulated on their platforms.
The documentary convincingly claims that algorithms developed to maximize participation on social media cause anxiety and depression. Social media firms should promote user well-being to solve this problem. This involves screen time management, at-risk identification, and healthy online networks. Ethical difficulties arise when social media companies balance profit and user well-being. Morally responsible for their platforms’ potential harm. Digital technology ethics and, human values and well-being are the focus of Brett and Selinger’s book. According to the documentary, social media businesses should address users’ mental health issues. Beyond fixing concerns, social media firms must shape user experiences ethically. They should prioritize user well-being above engagement in ethical design. “The Social Dilemma” shows that these firms can change human behavior and social standards, making ethical decisions. Also, social media businesses should have open discussions with professionals, stakeholders, and authorities to guarantee that their platforms serve societal interests. The ethical responsibility extends to transparency in how algorithms function, data usage, and the monetization of user information.
In conclusion, “The Social Dilemma” effectively exposes the negative impacts of social media, revealing algorithmic manipulation, data exploitation, and mental health repercussions. While emotionally engaging, it occasionally oversimplifies and dramatizes, potentially affecting its credibility. Nonetheless, it underscores the ethical responsibilities of social media companies and the importance of prioritizing user well-being alongside profitability.
Work Cited
Kubin, Emily, and Christian von Sikorski. “The Role of (Social) Media in Political Polarization: A Systematic Review.” Annals of the International Communication Association, vol. 45, no. 3, Taylor & Francis, July 2021, pp. 188–206, https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2021.1976070. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger. “Re-Engineering Humanity.” Google Books, 2018, https://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Re_Engineering_Humanity.html?id=eyVTDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Pennycook, Gordon, and David G. Rand. “Fighting Misinformation on Social Media Using Crowdsourced Judgments of News Source Quality.” ResearchGate, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 28 Jan. 2019, www.researchgate.net/publication/330710636_Fighting_misinformation_on_social_media_using_crowdsourced_judgments_of_news_source_quality. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Ekström, Axel G., et al. “Self-Imposed Filter Bubbles: Selective Attention and Exposure in Online Search.” Computers in Human Behavior Reports, vol. 7, Elsevier BV, Aug. 2022, pp. 100226–26, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2022.100226. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Mahoney, Jamie, et al. “Ethical Considerations in Social Media Analytics in the Context of Migration: Lessons Learned from a Horizon 2020 Project.” Research Ethics, vol. 18, no. 3, Mar. 2022, p. 174701612210875, https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161221087542.
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