The Social Dilemma

1/7/2021

This documentary thinks it's real cute. You may learn a thing or two, but a lot of the time it feels manipulative and self-righteous. I wish that, instead of portraying the mechanisms of ad-targeting as some kind of sci-fi super villain, they would have shown what truly goes on in the offices of google, facebook, and the like. The evils of manipulating human attention do not need to be sensationalized to look like something out of Tron or Blade Runner. Why not film the actual computer screens that are spitting back data about users of these platforms? Perhaps internet giants would not let cameras behind the scenes. Anyhow, this film has a noble goal but comes across as more dime-a-dozen infotainment that Netflix has pumped out many times before. Maybe if it did not treat its viewers

9/29/2025

The Social Dilemma is a powerful documentary that explores how social media algorithms subtly manipulate user behavior, creating addiction and influencing mental health. Through expert interviews, dramatized simulations, and engaging visuals, it reveals the ethical dilemmas behind profit-driven platforms that often overlook their societal impact. With a balanced and accessible approach, the film encourages viewers to critically reassess their digital habits and understand the hidden forces shaping their online experiences. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

7/31/2026

Every now and again I have arguments with my friends about my total lack of engagement with social media. I've never had any of them, and have cookies set to off on just about everything - I even trawl through the hundreds of vendors on Letterboxd and tell them what to do with their "legitimate interest", but after watching this I am begining to wonder if there is, indeed, any safe and comprehensive way to remain outside the ambit of Yankee tech and it's ever-present advertising and AI training models. What this attempts to showcase, albeit entirely one-sidedly, is just how these corporations have gone from being passive providers of services that augment life to giant ones complicit in formulating the actual direction of our lives. The suggestions from some plausible former industry figur