The Social Dilemma
Wow. That movie was very eye opening. After seeing it for the second time, I noticed a few things that I hadn’t before. Overall, great movie for anyone our age to research and analyze. To begin, I believe big data and algorithms are so powerful because of their ability to track massive amounts of information and come to one conclusion. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are known for their wide use globally. By having the tools to gather data without a user’s knowledge, you open a whole can of worms that changes the face of advertising. Companies like this now know what works and what doesn’t. They can tailor their advertisements to our demographic and basically feed us on a silver platter what we want to see. This is great for the company as they can make tons of profit off selling data and feeding advertisements to you that will end up in a purchase. Although, this comes with many dangers for companies that take control of our thinking process and challenge brands that don’t have the resources available. By listening to your conversations and picking apart what you like and dislike, they aren’t letting us choose what we see. I’ve spoken with many friends and family about this issue, and they are on the same page, this isn’t good. When thinking about how these issues can be dealt with, first you need to start with yourself. On your computer, place a blocker in front of the camera so any unwanted surveillance won’t be seen through. Also, there is no stopping your phone from picking up noises or watching where you scroll, so my advice would be to stop using it in general. If you know that Instagram or Facebook is tracking your digital movements, then just stop using the platform. This will help you mentally as you don’t need to worry about unwanted tracking. On a professional and societal standpoint, I believe these companies have the obligation to listen to their customer base. Apple, Google, Facebook all need to see the damage this is doing to the younger and older demographic. People aren’t behaving how they used to and the social interactions will never be the same as if there weren’t any internet.
