The Social Dilemma: What is it and how do i control it?
A. What is it about?
In the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma”, various technology experts from firms like Facebook, Twitter, Google and Pinterest talk about the flip side of social media as to how a tool which was initially perceived to be connecting people in a positive way, has become an existential threat.
These negative implications were never intended, but have some long-term implications on humanity. It’s important to break down this social dilemma into 3 parts:
1. The Discrimination and Democracy Dilemma
Research indicates that 64% of the individuals who have joined extremist groups on social media sites like Facebook have done so because the algorithms drove them there.
With the help of data available about us, content algorithms drive us towards extremism which sparks biases, hate and intolerance in the society. Today, we are driven towards extreme opinions which is likely to resonate with us.
We create the data that makes these machines more intelligent, so essentially, we are training these systems and algorithms who now know how to manipulate us.
And then, using our confirmation bias (a mental model from psychology) we are shown similar content so that we remain engaged, and this leads us to become intolerant to the opposing side and other people’s opinions.
Thus, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell fact from fiction.
The essence of media and internet, to make individuals more aware is defeated, as we are caught in a virtual bubble where automated algorithms make us see what they want us to see.
The expected result in the near future is a divided world, which is an unsafe place for living.
For example: the results of US elections reflect the same; a divided democracy with intolerant individuals who resort to violence if their preferred candidate does not win the election.
The basic tenets for the existence of human race, which are mutual respect and tolerance stand threatened today.
In the documentary, a fictional story is shown wherein a boy gets attached to extremist opinions through social media websites and lands himself at a violent protest after which he is arrested by the police. This shows how social media can be used as a weapon to propel manipulation and misinformation, which can ultimately undermine democracies and become a potent tool for violence.
2. The Mental Health Dilemma
It has been proven through research that higher use of social media is correlated with a decline in not only physical and mental health, but also life satisfaction.
There are various design techniques used by social media platforms which keeps us glued to our devices. For example, the push notifications we receive every minute from one site or another. When a friend tags us in a post, our curiosity makes us leave whatever we are doing and go back to the site.
And this does not stop here, the algorithms used by companies throw content at us which we are most likely not to skip. This becomes an endless loop. We are trapped in a virtual world, paying almost no heed to physical contact and surroundings.
And why do the websites do this? Because if we are not paying for the product (social media content), then we are the product. It is our time and mind share which is being sold to advertisers on these social media websites.
This is brilliantly explained through a short story in the documentary featuring a young adolescent girl whose self-esteem and mental health is impacted due to being more active in the virtual world than the physical one.
The use of filters makes us expect more from ourselves, and this leads to the expectation — reality gap (a concept given by Nat Ware).
We set wrong expectations by comparing ourselves with others (for ex: our friend is more photogenic than us or wears more trendy clothes) or we compare our real selves with what we look like using filters (some people have been reported to undergo plastic surgeries so that in reality they look like how they look using photoshop or beauty filters).
The result of all this is being unhappy and dissatisfied in life.
We need to be aware of the impact of social media on our mental health, and also be personally responsible to not ignore such signs and take control now, so that we can minimise its negative impact in the coming future.
3. The Digital Trail
Whatever information we post on social media, be it our opinions, pictures, likes or dislikes are there to stay for life. It’s not a piece of paper which can be misplaced or torn apart.
There is increasing evidence that our personal information is used by authorities and marketers, which could pose as a potential threat.
In the online mode, an opinion given in a particular context can be used against us a few months later as a proof, with no regards to the context it was written in. A data portrait can be painted based on our actions on the web.
Many individuals don’t realise this but it is extremely important to be aware of the future consequences.
For example: An online dating site “OKCupid.com” records profile questions about things like religious beliefs, drug use, etc. which have been reported to be transferred to a data tracking company along with the individual’s IP address. Consider such information being used by the government as a proof for someone who consumes drugs and then locking them up.
Such recorded behaviour can be linked to our names and email addresses, making it easier for any authority to track us. This is just one example, there are numerous ways in which our day-to-day data is recorded: use of cards in public transportation, surveillance cameras, smartphone location, and many more.
B. How to Take Control?
Now that we are more aware about the technology we are using, here are some useful tips one can use to take back the control and make a conscious effort to protect oneself from the ill-effects of technology.
1. Turn Off Notifications
For social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., turning off notifications will help one to reclaim our time. Once the trigger goes off, we have much more control.
2. Use helpful tools
Tech can give us some helpful tools too. For example: one can track their screen time to become more conscious about it, download apps that help you set goals and also practice mindfulness.
3. Unfollow polarised media accounts and extremists
Stay away from polarised social media groups, or accounts by hitting the unfollow button.
4. Be aware about voices you disagree with
Check out the perspectives you disagree with through news sites offering a cross-partisan view. This will help us become more tolerant and open to discussion with even those individuals who don’t share our opinions.
5. Set Boundaries
Set aside time for yourself and your family or friends wherein you don’t use your phones. Start by fixing some time slots during the day and slowly increase it by persuading the people you live with to do the same.
It’s never too late to change our actions. And it’s very easy to expect someone else (the authorities) to take that action for us.
Once you have read this article, you have taken the first step of becoming more aware. It’s important to not stop here and bring about small changes every day by taking control of our lives and also helping others with the same.
