"The Social Dilemma"

"The Social Dilemma" is a documentary on Netflix about how technology influences the way we behave. Most of it was a no-brainer for me, and will be for most people who watch it, yet I came away feeling more empowered to take charge of the way I interact on the internet. 

What is most notable about this documentary is the fact that it is done by the very people who created such technology giants as Facebook, Google, and more. They confess that while they did not intend for the internet to become so addictive, they themselves are guilty of going down the rabbit hole. For example, YouTube. YouTube gives you suggestions based on which videos you've already watched. Aren't you tempted to click on those suggestions? I am and I do. They take responsibility for creating this dilemma and propose that something needs to be done about it. 

This whole idea of the internet being so addictive reminds me of sugar. Sugar is addictive and the more we eat it, the more we become addicted to it. Most people know that an excessive amount of sugar is terrible for our health, but we crave it and eat it anyway. That's addiction. And, to a great extent, it isn't our fault. Sugar rewires our brain. If we want to break the addiction, we have to have a plan to do so. The same concept can be applied to the internet. Facebook, for example, is designed to be addictive (whether it is intentional or not). Every time you hit refresh, a new set of posts show up on your feed. As the documentary accurately points out, it's like playing the slots in Vegas. I am completely guilty of doing this and that is why I now prefer Instagram, which tells you when "you're all caught up". I see all posts in order and refreshing the screen will literally accomplish nothing. 

I also love the fact that it isn't as easy to share links on Instagram as it is on Facebook. That "share" button on Facebook is way too easy to use. And most people who don't already agree with us aren't going to change their minds because of articles we share on Facebook. So, as the saying goes, we're "preaching to the choir". In other words, we're wasting our time. That's not to say Instagram is perfect. It too, can certainly be addictive. I just find that it's easier to control the addictive and "waste of time" nature of it than Facebook.

One thing that was mentioned in the documentary was the term "user". They claim that this term is only used to describe illegal drugs and software industries, implying that it's a negative term. However, this is not entirely true. The term "wheelchair user" is often used to describe someone who uses a wheelchair. And this is certainly not negative. The documentary fails to recognize this term completely, as it relates to people with disabilities.

While the dramatizations in "The Social Dilemma" are almost laughable, the film accomplishes the goal of getting the point across that there is a problem. It's a problem that was created by humans and has been taken over by the very technology they created. It's like this technology has a mind of its own. And the problem affects people of all ages, including adults. The documentary acknowledges the fact that the need for social approval is normal, but on a much smaller scale than what it's become. Think about the number of "likes" on social media posts. In some respects, social media has become a popularity contest.

So, what do we do about this dilemma? The internet is an effective and useful tool, but it is also very addictive. The need for laws to help regulate what we're exposed to was mentioned. However, the responsibility is also on us internet "users". The biggest takeaway I got was don't click on suggestions. I've already started to become more mindful of this. When I access the internet on my phone, I automatically see articles that are related to what I've researched online or watched on the Roku. For example, Qandi likes to listen to the movie "Grease" a lot. I often play it on the Roku. My phone knows this! Yesterday there was an article on my phone suggesting that the movie was all a dream and that Sandy actually drowned in the beginning!! Whoa...what??? I asked myself, "Is this something I would seek out on my own?" No! I love the movie, "Grease", but I would never, never, never look for an article about a different and much darker theory about it. So, as curious as I was, I did not tap on it. 

When it comes to social media, it also helps to turn off notifications. That way I have to go into the app to see activity and I'm not tempted to check my phone every time I hear a ding. I do have limited exceptions to this "rule", but they are few and far between. For the most part, if someone needs to contact me right away, there are other ways they can do so. 

While the internet is by its very nature addictive and laws may eventually become helpful, at some point we have to take responsibility. It's like the food system. It's broken. But there are things that are well within our control that we can do to stay healthy. 

Do you find that you're addicted to any aspect of the internet? If not, how do you make sure you do not become addicted to it? If you are addicted to it, what can you do to break the addiction?