A critical analysis of the social dilemma

 The new Netflix documentary-drama “The Social Dilemma,” is about an disasterous impact on these 

companies’ profit lines by technology firms which have influenced human psychology and has 

effected our society.

A new Netflix documentary-drama called The Social Dilemma has encouraged some social media 

users to deactivate their accounts, but it’s unlikely to make a difference in the tech behemoths it 

tackles.

Since its premiere on Netfilx, Indiewire has praised “The Social Dilemma” as “perhaps the only best 

clear, concise, and genuinely disturbing critique of social media ever created in part,” while tech 

analyst Benedict Evans has criticised the video as “deceptive and factually incorrect.”

The documentary “The Social Dilemma” looks at how the Internet’s most popular programmes work 

on a simple business model of analysing users’ behaviour in order to sell tailored adverts and create 

a vicious circle of addiction. Interviews with tech professionals, including many former workers of 

Silicon Valley behemoths, are mixed up with PSA-style theatrical scenarios depicting the harmful 

consequences of social media on everyday Americans. Among the many topics covered in the video 

are how technology corporations have influenced elections, ethnic conflict, and depression and 

suicide rates.

Employee interviews are the most intriguing part of the movie, as they discuss how their companies 

built technology that so skillfully manipulates the human psyche and express their dissatisfaction 

with it. Their predictions are ominous. Former Facebook CEO Tim Kendall believes his main short-

term concern is “civil conflict,” while technology pioneer Jaron Lanier warns, “If we go along the 

status quo for another 20 years, we’re probably going to destroy our civilization via negligence.”