Director Jeff Orlowski is convincing in his attempt to reveal that the modern digital technologies that take charge in driving the flow of information in today’s world are the demons that are gradually damaging the fabric of the society. Some of the ex-employees of tech giants including Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram come out in front of the camera to share their exclusive thoughts and experiences on how those very corporations, with millions of customers in their databases and massive financial resources at their disposal, devise algorithms incorporated in their products that hack into people’s psychology and make everyone who uses their products, a recurring source of their income.
Among those interviewed, Tristan Harris (co-founder—Center for Humane Technology, former design ethicist—Google) occupies a major screen space in this inspiring documentary, along with Tim Kendall (former executive—Facebook, former president—Pinterest) and others as they express their unbiased views on the intentionally flawed designs and business models of some common digital platforms that we use literally every single day.
The film also sheds light on the horror of misinformation and fake news, and the supposedly central role of misused social media in making all that happen. Citing the unexpected outcome of 2016 U.S. presidential elections (the possible role of Facebook and/or other social media in it, and the horrific violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in the past few years due to the popularity of propaganda theories and hate speeches on Facebook), the film boldly attempts to showcase how incredibly powerful social media can be. It makes that point that if not used in a controlled and ethical manner, disastrous consequences can it lead to “a civil war”—quoting the words of Tim Kendall.
To magnify the situation from different angles, not only tech workers but people from several different areas including academicians, advocates, and human rights personnel are interviewed in the film to assess their thoughts on how to best control the explosion of misinformation.
The film came out perhaps at the best time, in 2020, when the world is witnessing the worst global disaster in the history of humanity with COVID-19—which, in turn, among other obvious losses, has also given rise to a huge volume of false rumors and claims circulating on the internet regarding the disease without any plausible backing. Quite honestly, do we have the data on how many people with the symptoms of this disease fell ill and died around the world by consuming the wrong medicines just because they fell into the trap of some false rumors which were spreading as fast as the virus itself? There are high chances that many, if not all, of those patients could have been treated well and perhaps saved had the social media been a safer and more ethical place. By inventing social media, have we given birth to a monster we can’t control now?
Definitely one of the boldest documentaries ever made, “The Social Dilemma” is perfect in its arrival; and if taken by the entire global community thoughtfully, it can create a revolution or uprising of a new digital order—one of ethics and a sense of righteousness. It has the power to challenge the status quo and can very well be a fresh start in making this world more humane.
