Review of The Social Dilemma (2020) by Gerryblue — 12 Sep 2020

I knew I was in for a documentary-drama on the dangers of social media and its excesive use (abuse). In an age where no teen is left behind of this new tools of conformity, one can't leave any stone unturned, especially those of us with kids. Very eye and mind openening in regards to the traps and methods used by large social media companies to shape us and direct us towards their goals.

But the discerning mind can't help but notice the left-wing tendency of the documentary. They were doing very well on the pyschological effects of Instagram on teen girls' self esteem when all of a sudden we are talking about tumbling democracies and, oh, surprise, influencing elections. The second third of the documentary is all about politics and Facebook. They lash out on Zuckerberg's social media, when in fact Twitter is far more toxic and dangerous.

While I do too belive that we are more divided than ever as humans, of course, the filmmakers very thinly accuse Facebook and Russia of dismantling democracies. They just never mention Trump because they are too wise.

So they end up doing the very same thing they accuse the social networks of doing. Trying to influence your thought and ideas about politics, but now via Netflix (who, mind you, employ some of the very same tactics social media uses to keep you hooked).

Finally they get back to the psychological and emotional effects of the abuse of SM, and suddenly it ends with the best advice of the whole movie: Delete your social netwoks. Especially Facebook, they said.