Step 1: answer the following questions. Don’t forget to use reporting verbs from this handout in your answer.
Question 1:
What was the documentary Social Dilemma about? Use reporting verbs to summarize the documentary.
Question 2:
Film subject Justin Rosenstein says, “You look over at the other [political] side, and you start to think, ‘How can those people be so stupid? Look at all of this information that I’m constantly seeing. How are they not seeing that same information?’ And the answer is: they are not seeing that same information.” Do you think it’s important for everyone to have the same set of facts? Do you follow people and sources you disagree with? Why or why not?
Question 3:
Should we trust an algorithm to make major decisions such as employment, financial, or housing outcomes as well as what information we see? Is it possible for algorithms to be objective when they are written by humans – mostly white upper class Americans in Silicon Valley – who are shaped by their own biases and experiences?
Question 4:
In desperation, the family in the film uses a Kitchen SafeTM to lock up their screens, but this solution is short-lived. What is your family’s relationship with your devices and social media at home? Were there any moments between the film’s fictional family that felt particularly resonant?
Question 5:
What are some concrete actions major tech companies could take to better protect children and preserve your family’s time and connection?
Source: The Social Dilemma Discussion and Action Guide
Step 2: After answering the following questions, respond to one classmate. You can agree, disagree, and/or agree and disagree simultaneously. Try to use templates from this page: LINK.
Question 1: I don’t think it’s possible to have people gain the same information, there is a lot of agenda and bias in this social world. the media tries to spread awareness among all the grounds and sides of the spectrum. We follow people we disagree with because it gives the viewer that sense of defense to disagree through the media and follow up with their ideas.
Question 2: Through the data that is accumulated daily from these algorithms I would say it’s fair that such decisions
I agree with thiy because social media had many hidden agenda.
I disagree with your first question. Why should we promote difference and violence when we could all be in a single hand? Instead of having different information; why not have the same information and share a common interest? You don’t want people to live in harmony and peace.
1) yes I do think it’s important for people to have the same information. so that they can pick for themselves.
2)No we should not trust the algorithm because normally have agenda behind it. Yes they can because they are learn form us what to do in order to get at controlling what we do in our everyday life.
3) My family we normally don’t have our phone near us when we eat and we try to catch up each other day. We don’t really go on it as much we do other things. I would the awkward silence when we at times but then we start talking of hours about things.
4)some concert action major tech companies could take is trying make something that will notify parents when underage child go on something they shouldn’t be on.
Question 1: I feel that it is important for people to have the same information so they can’t confuse the question with one another due to the fact different facts can lead to contradicting viewpoints.
Question 2: I don’t feel that the algorithm should be trusted to make decisions for a person due to the fact it was created by a certain group of people so the algorithm is based on that certain group’s preference. This is why the algorithm is flawed because they are built around a certain group’s preference and set on that group’s goals.
Question 3: Personally my family is split between two groups the one who is heavily reliant on their device like it has essentially become a part of them and the other side is the one who can leave without it.
Question 4: Tech Company can make their algorithm better suited for children and make social media more controlled for children. They can also add time limits so they could limit the number of time users is on their devices than having endless streak of person on social media.
I disagree with you on the first question, if people had the same information it would be merely impossible to actually have the same reaction to these “facts”. Everybody is responsible for their own ideologies and their one way of contemplating life through experiences.
I agree that everyone should be provided with the same info and facts.
Question 1: I don’t think it’s possible to have people gain the same information, there is a lot of agenda and bias in this social world. the media tries to spread awareness among all the grounds and sides of the spectrum. We follow people we disagree with because it gives the viewer that sense of defense to disagree through the media and follow up with their ideas.
Question 2: Through the data that is accumulated daily from these algorithms I would say it’s fair that such decisions are made market-wise, the reason why I believe that is many decisions could be made consciously and help the economy.
Question 3: The family in the documentary is just like my family, my dad doesn’t really resonate with the consumption of social media, my siblings are addicted and I try to limit their use of social media with the help of my mother.
Question 4: A lot of these companies try to make these alternatives for kids which don’t really work when there are so many things that are really accessed. There should be focused programming on children’s data that would completely stop from them accessing explicit content.
I agree with your response for the first question, it isn’t possible for people to have the same content. It should be were everyone is viewing something different and more information.
for Question, 4 I would suggest the fact of adding a time limit so that the user is not fixated on their device throughout the whole day. Limiting the time on the device will also limit the dependence on the device.
I disagree with your second question as well, why trust algorithms that were created by people who don’t even know who you are? They didn’t even recognize who you are. And you are saying to trust them, what a shame. They were created by a group of people specifically for them and you could research to find out more if needed. And by you saying that you are being slightly ignorant.
1- Depends. It is something that could potentially harm other people, like people who believe that vaccines caused autism or distorted scientific facts or any kind of conspiracy theory then the same set of facts should give. Now, if is something trivial such as which food or color is the best because is an opinion that is not harmful, then this principle couldn’t be followed.
2- No, I think they can’t be objective because probably those major decisions are probably based on their experience while ignoring discrimination, sexism, classism, etc which are things that will affect people that are not white upper middle class.
3- One thing that resonated with me was when the family was using their phones at dinner This is something that happens in my family, especially with younger, they are usually always on their phone and they didn’t get involved with others.
Question 1: I think that it is important for people to see different information because some people see things that you might not have seen yet and will give you their own input on the information. If we were all to see the same information we will have the same ideas on the content and it will eventually get boring. I don’t follow sources I disagree with because I want to only see things that are for my enjoyment on my feed not something that would get angry or mad about.
Question 2: We have been trusting the internet with all of these things already and it is just how life works. Even though it may not be good its easier. The economy will fail or have a big decrease if it weren’t for the algorithm. No one is going to sit and look through 200 resumes and see which candidate fits best. I think that they should be written by humans but not only white upper class. It should be more open to everyone to shar and shape the algorithm in their own way.
Question 3: My family’s relationship with the device at home is very strong. We would eat at the table and have our phone is our hands or watch a movie with our phone in our hands. This doesn’t become apparent while its happening but you eventually realize that you finish your dinner and haven’t said a word to anyone at the table.
Question 4: Age restriction is a really good way to prevent children form certain inappropriate content. I believe that children should have a limit on phone usage like dinner, homework time, play time but it is always up to the parent and how they want to raise their child.
I agree with you on the first question mostly.
I disagree with your first question. Why should we promote difference and violence when we could all be in a single hand? Instead of having different information; why not have the same information and share a common interest? Don’t you want people to live in harmony and peace? Ignore the above message.
I disagree with the answer to your first question. I believe there are scientific facts that are true based on the evidence that is available at the time. Algorithms should not be manipulating the fundamental facts that we need in order for the society to operate.
I agree with the second question, although this kind of technology is harmful, it really makes life easier altogether. We have been benefiting from technology for years now, but our job now is to make it safer so that it doesn’t affect us negatively.
I think it is important for everyone to have the same set of facts but they must be true. I do not want lies. Before anyone posts something, the company must view if it’s accurate or not instead of manipulating people. Yes, I follow people and sources I disagree with. I do this to understand both sides of the story and not be biased. I don’t want to put myself in the wrong situation epically since I know there are a lot of lies in the media.
No, we should not trust an algorithm to make major decisions such as employment, financial, or housing outcomes as well as what information we see because this is not our actual sense of thought. Yes, I think it is possible for algorithms to be objective when they are written by certain humans.
I don’t use electronics a lot only for homework or to watch short videos from time to time. I am not like others who are controlled by their phone or who can’t live without their phone. My parents are the same. There are no problems that could be found. However, sometimes I do stay up late watching on my ipad and when it’s time to wake up for school, I feel like I don’t. This is similar to the teen in the film when he spends almost all night on his phone and wakes up for school tired.
They should limit the use of propaganda in any way possible. They should not teach children how to act unnormal at a very young age and that could mean anything. They should stop trying to change the way we think, especially young people. Stop dehumanizing the world
Q1- I think that it is important for everyone to have the same set of facts because then we are able to be on the same page. I feel that everybody should acknowledged the facts and see both sides of the story. I tend not to follow anything about different sources and standing in the middle of it because I feel that there is alway something behind it.
Q2- We should not trust an algorithm to help make major decisions because it is only going to show you what you wanted to see. Algorithms can’t be objective because they are only written by a group of people, white upper class Americans which can affect other people that are different races and as a person there will alway be a bias that will come out sooner or later.
Q3- My family’s relationship with devices is okay because we don’t use that much social media and if we all eat together there should be no devices on the table. The film doesn’t resonant so much with my family because we have rules when we were little and things just stay like that.
Q4- Some concrete actions a major tech companies could take to better protect children is to set time limits. To preserve family’s time and connections devices should be limited because you can’t spend family time when you grow older. The idea that you can go on your phone when you grow older and not waste it now.
I agree with question 4 because they should have set a time limit to limit the child on the phones. I also agree on question 2 because we shouldn’t trust the algorithms to help us make a major decision because the result you wanted doesn’t come out what you wanted. Also that algorithms shouldn’t be objected to by one group of people because it can create an unfair disadvantage to other groups of people.
To respond to your answer to question 2, how will you navigate the power of algorithm in making HR/employment decision though? I am curious.
I agree where everything should let people see the right facts and both sides. Even though maybe one side could be untrue but then it’s still debatable to let the reader to understand the other side. And I also agree with you where We should not trust an algorithm because everything could be bias because publish decision is only what they want you to see, it could be a lied.
Q1. I think that it is important for everyone to have the same set of facts because knowing if it is true or not. But I also think that it not important for everyone to have the same facts because everyone have a different opinion on things that they know.
Q2. I think we shouldn’t always trust algorithms to make major decisions such as employment, financial, or housing outcomes as well as what information we see because of how people see the information. Another is that the outcome that you wanted is not how you imagine and sometimes is the best to trust what is the best for you. I think it is possible for algorithms to be objective when written by humans but each race and gender that are equal to each other and not giving other race privileges or gender. I also think the algorithm is mostly writing white upper class Americans and they can bias to their own race and give more rights for the white then any other race or class. The people who are shaped by their own biases and experiences are the upper class and the people with influence to give others what is normal and equal to them.
Q3. My family’s relationship with my devices and social media at home is that they don’t care and they let me do what I want. Also they do the same things so it doesn’t affect my relationship with my family. In the film’s fictional family that I felt particularly resonant with me is when all the member of the family try to fix the problem and their is only one person in the dining table eating I feel that I resonates me a lot cause we eat in different place like one is eating at the living rooms some are eating in their room cause of Covid. Before Covid we all ate at the dining table and were able to spend time together and it changed after Covid started.
Q4.Some concrete actions major tech companies could take to better protect children and preserve your family’s time and connection is having a time limit or notify the parents when their child goes on their phone.
1- I agree with you, people have their own opinions such is ok to not have that same information but it is something that doesn’t have scientific facts and should not be spread massively on social media.
I agree with how we should have a limited time and that sometimes we can’t trust algorithms because there can still be a bias. We can take the advice but the final decision is on you to make.
1- Depends. It is something that could potentially harm other people, like people who believe that vaccines caused autism or distorted scientific facts or any kind of conspiracy theory then the same set of facts should give. Now, if is something trivial such as which food or color is the best because is an opinion that is not harmful, then this principle couldn’t be followed.
2- No, I think they can’t be objective because probably those results are probably based on bias while ignoring discrimination, sexism, classism, etc which are things that will affect people that are not white upper middle class.
3- One thing that resonated with me was when the family was using their phones at dinner This is something that happens in my family, especially with younger, they are usually always on their phone and they didn’t get involved with others.
4- Probably, limit notifications and have age restrictions
Q1
I feel like it is important for all of us to have the same set of facts. social media customizes each one’s feed to their beliefs and their needs. it is often done to attract more and more people to their platform. It is important that all of us get the same facts because it would be easier for us as a whole to eliminate the lies it. I do follow both sides of the argument to figure out who is on the right side. I think it is the ideal thing to do and not follow or support something blindly.
Q2
We should not trust AI technology to make decisions on its own. We can use it to help us make better choices, but I personally think it’s not capable of executing everything . Although AI is mainly created by a few upper-class people, AI can learn independently as others use it.
Q3
In my home, there is a rule that phones are not allowed at the dining table unless its Sunday morning. I am always respectful to that rule because it allows me to interact with my mom. We both are envy the rule. But in my dorm, I don’t have any rules on using my phone or other devices. From time to time I feel wrong about my screen-time and would try to minimize it by not using it. But for the most, I am on my phone.
Q4
I feel like social media should allow parents more control of their child’s accounts. For example, time limits and types of content they can see. I also feel like every social media should separate adults from underage teens. This can be achieved by age verifying with an ID.
To respond to your answer to question 2, I agree with you, but what might it (employment decision, college application) with more informed “AI” look like?
1. I think its is not important to have the same set of facts. I feel like I rather not follow the sources that I disagree with but I wouldn’t mind to see different perspectives in the variety of sources.
2.I feel like we shouldnt trust algorithms to make major decisions for financial , housing and employment outcomes just because we should be able to trust our intuition and the capabilities of our life. The algorithms themselves are not biased; rather algorithms are most likely to be input to other contributors for various projects and software tech can learn to be objective not necessarily pertaining to the white upper class.
3. My family’s relationship with devices is no social media and no phones while we are eating. A part of the film from the fictional family that felt particularly resonant was referring to when one of the girls decided to take the box and open it because she desperately needed her phone.
4. Some concrete actions of major tech companies is to limit certain publicity to certain ages, making sure children are not particularly entertained with inappriorpate stuff, using safeguard programs and limiting time for certain users.
I agree with Amy we shouldn’t trust algorithms because we can base our decisions on the influence technology has on us and how we should all have the same feed to contain information that we are all informed of.
But how can hiring committee members go through a lot of applications all at once?
1. The documentary gives a voice to Tech specialists who have researched or worked with social media businesses expresses their worries about the potentially harmful effects of social media, which tech corporations utilize to try to sway and influence “users”.
2. I do think that everyone should have access to the same set of information. Although this information shouldn’t be all biased, there should be a fair amount of information that represents two different standpoints to allow users to decide which one they agree with.
3. Society should not place their trust in the algorithm to make major decisions, although the algorithm can assist with these decisions, they shouldn’t be trusted to persuade us completely. Especially since the algorithm is written by people who do not share the same lifestyle.
4. At home, my parents also do not like devices at the dinner table when were all together. But lately, I’ve been eating dinner alone because I get home late, or just decide to eat later when I’m hungry. When I’m alone at the dinner table, I usually watch something on my phone to entertain me, but if I’m eating with my family I like to have conversations with them.
5. Screen time is a way to help control the number of time children are using technology, which can help preserve family time and connection.
1) The documentary Social Dilemma claims that the sources of misinformation, polarization, and radicalization are the way social media looks and the algorithm that is made for a specific benefit. The speaker informs that the algorithm is made in hopes to keep users on their social media for a long time because it would mean that they can promote an advertisement that makes the company make money. If an advertisement sees a boost in sales that makes the advertisement worth it, they would continue buying the advertisement slot which would make the company money. The speaker indicated that the company found out that the important thing is using the social media for a long time, inviting other people, and coming back to the social media which is done by triggering an emotion which can cause people to feel mad or sad which cause them to continue scrolling.
2: I think it is important that people have the same set of facts in order to understand why people would think a certain way. This also helps with people with people making a decision that is informed rather than following bias information.
I don’t follow people I disagree with because sometimes their information is terribly misinform that I would feel negative emotion when I could be doing something else. I do listen to opposing opinion sometimes but there is someone else responding to the opposing opinion on why it’s wrong.
3: I don’t think an algorithm should be used to make major decisions because people think that since the algorithm is an AI it would be objective since they are made with a goal in mind but it would be using data from the masses that are filled with biases and the programmer would also program their biases into the AI to make the decision that the programmer would think is best rather than objectively.
4: My family is also on their devices at home but I don’t think it would really change even without technology.
5: I think protecting children and preserving family time and connection by having a timer to lock the application or phone after a certain time to prevent people from becoming addicted to the application or phone. There should be a limited amount of people to contact though in case of an emergency such as friends, family, and police.
Q1: Documentary “Social Dilemma” is about the present issue where people were been attracted by social media. Tristan Harris points out the issue of the people and why does people been attracted by those social media. It’s all because those social media hacked your brain, they stole your data, for example Instagram tract on the time you send on a video, or a picture and they will use these data to send you product related or similar pictures to keep you keep using the App. They will use the technique like you can see them typing so you will remain on the app to wait for them to response. Social media is a drug, people stay on social media all day long and forgot about the real life that they should experience.
Q2: I don’t think it’s important for everyone to have same set of facts because people only see the facts that they want to see, and they only believe the things that they want to believe in. Social media and online source could be basis but then if you don’t believe that you will research more because you don’t want to agree the source you will go on the next one.
Q3: We shouldn’t believe in them because people live in different environment and experience different things. Which the outcome will be different, because one person can’t represent everyone in the society. It could be you live in a wealthy community and grow up in wealthy community, you will believe that you are poor because you have a lower income compared to other people in the community but then you actually make much more compared to other community.
Q4: In my family, we don’t spend a lot of time together, and maybe we don’t even eat once a week together because we all have a different routine and time period. My mom sleeps early and work early, but I sleep late, and I have nightshift work, so I only see my mom in the morning but for only 15 minutes when I prepare for school. The place we communicate the most is on social media where we text when I am in school and when she is working. Yes, because we don’t spend time to eat and enjoy dinner time and right after dinner, I went to do my own stuff, for example have fun on social media.
I disagree with this person’s number two because i thing it is important that there is one and only one fact that is truth and get prove by. I agree that everyone can have different opinions, but if everyone can have a different fact then there is no point of coming to schools for education or taking test because everyone can have different answer and it true. Maybe some people will only believe what they want to believe, but it is still important to have only one set of fact.
1) The documentary was about how social media and the tech industry. Trystan Harris argue that social media is to much now. The company are try to make people stick on the screen and they were collecting people’s data so they can predict people’s action. There need to be some kind of changing, therefore, he made a presentation and send it to the google, but there was no reaction. It had also talk about how did the company collect data by using free app and free website and their goal is to persuasive people to stay on screen for longer. It had also mention about how the website will customized the fact for everyone and the reality for everyone is different. There is also some people believe that social media is same as drugs. In addition, social media is also having bad affect to children. Children might compare their self to the post on media.
2) I think that it is important for everyone to have same set of facts because fact should not be opinions it should be some think that get approve that it is true like one plus one. I will not follow something that i am disagree to because in that situation it mostly opinions and I don’t want to be mad or change myself on something that i disagree.
3) I don’t think we should trust an algorithm to make major decisions because the algorithm is focusing on the result and not how the process will go and people will feel. For example, the best way to save the world is to eliminate human.
4) In my family we don’t go on the social media the most time when we were eating together we mostly watch YouTube while we are eating. I don’t feel resonant with the family, but with friends i do have some resonant because they are always on their phone.
5) I think some action that major tech companies can so to better protect children and preserve family time and connections is to
1. The documentary Social Dilemma is about how social media all over the countries are controlling us. It is warning us all the dangerous impact of social media. How they manipulate us and influence. Due to social media’s potential to affect people’s opinions, emotions, and behavior as well as promote conspiracy theories and false information, its design encourages addiction in order to maximize profit.
2. I believe that it is important for all of us to know the fact that we are facing the same problem with social media and how it take our life through the scrolling in the internet. I often don’t follow people I disagree with because these are the people that I can’t relate to. Only in some circumstance such as my friends, we keep updates to each other and show each other how we’ve been doing. This is the reason why I post comment and like.
3. This is a very important questions that I’ve been thinking to myself in the past few month. Online source is what I mostly trust and one thing that I make my decision with. However, I have to make sure everything’s sounds logic which I have been working with recently and same thing when it comes to people with experience. This enable me to stay away from trap and false information on the internet.
4. In my house, we don’t often use phone while we are in the kitchen because me and my siblings are raised with phone banning during meal. However, I can definitely relate to the situation in the film. Sometime it could be awkward to have a conversation with your family during a meal and therefore our phone is the only thing we can get help with to overcome this moment. Since Thanksgiving is coming, I am sure that we aren’t going to eat with our phone in front of our family. We should reduce the phone activity as possible.
5. There are many way to concrete actions major tech companies that we could take to better protect children and preserve our family’s time and connection. What I recommend the most is to set up a family technology rule because this way we can watch each other and making sure none of us are able to touch our phone for a certain moment. What we can do is to it all of our phone in the center of the dinner table and whoever touch it first have to wash the dishes. This was I have done once before. Obvious there are still many other way like downloading a tracking platform that helps us gain more self control.
Q1: The documentary, Social Dilemma, is about the advancement in technology and how it has been structured to control and monitor our daily lives. Spokesperson, Tristan harris speaks about how working in Google, specifically gmail tech team made him realize the works behind algorithm companies such as Instagram, Snapchat and Facebooks and its goal which is to simply have people attached to these apps. He argues that the tech industry is here for us because we are the products, this is how they make their money. As he explains this with other narrators, a mini short films is shown throughout parts of the documentary in order to give us an visual idea of how the manipulation of the tech industry works plays a example of our everyday life.
Q2. I believe that it is important for everyone to have the same facts because this helps prevents false information from spreading. If everyone has the same facts, we will be able to bring the world together without destroying one another through debates. I follow all sources because this helps see both sides and not just be manipulated by one side.
Q3. I think we should not trust algorithm to decide on the information we see because it will show biased information in order to satisfy us. This prevents people from being open minded because they will believe that only their information is correct just because their algorithm said so.
Q4. My family’s relationship with devices is not as perfect, however much healthier than the family in the film. For example, we do not use our devices during dinner time, instead we use that time to socialize and catch up with each other.
Q5. Reduce their spam notifications automatically. For example, when you open a new account to any app/company (Instagram for example), you are automatically subscribed to notifications such as “@user posted a new story”. I believe these notifications should only be allowed if the user authorizes/turns on that feature.
I agree with Emily that we should not trust algorithms because they can influence our decisions and we must have the same feed to give details that we are all aware of.
I agree with the second question. I feel like everyone should be represented with the same facts that are not bias or misleading in order to not have such a divided society.
1. The documentary begins with Tristan Harris a worker at Google ethics who decided to have a reflection over his job affecting millions and having a spiral effect of the similar burnout on the population of the world as he would have after his work. After him opening up on the concept of manipulation using the vulnerability of human psychology other people at different platforms also talked about how social media generates revenue along with influencing people.
2. It is not true that if everyone sees the same information their is still a possibility of having conflicts among group of people as on social media especially in politics the point of view of every person is influenced differently in their day to day life . But this does not mean that everyone sees the same set of information as well as it would not help or have in any added benefit for everyone.
3. Even though algorithms are written by white upper class men they are not merely their thoughts that are being processed socially in big companies these would be passed all over the company with a lot of protocols and measures if they would include biases then it would be impossible for a company to exist as in a large companies there are people all over the world writing and processing algorithms. Hence I feel algorithms can be trusted on and are unbiased.
4. In my family everyone has control over their mind and not really addicted to phones so we have never used such devices to keep our phones away . I feel that I have been using my phone a little more as time goes by but it is mainly for work related purposes so I can take it away from myself if I need to.
5. I think this method would not really be feasible for major companies but if they would just shut their servers down for a few hours during the day there is really nothing anyone can do about it other have a talk with their family or increase physical activities .
1. In the documentary Social Dilemma, it is discussed how the design of social media encourages addiction in order to maximize profit as well as how it can be used to sway people’s opinions, feelings, and behavior while also disseminating false information and conspiracy theories.
2. I believe that it is critical for everyone to have the same set of facts so that we can all be on the same page. Everyone, in my opinion, should acknowledge the facts and consider both sides of the story. I avoid following anything about various sources and standing in the middle of it because I believe there is always something behind it.
3. No, we should not trust the algorithm because it usually has an agenda. Yes, because they are learning from us what to do in order to gain control over what we do in our daily lives.
4. My family doesn’t care if we use our phone during dinner, but in public we can’t use our phone during dinner because we’ve got the whole family. When one of the daughters decided to grab the box and open it because she really needed her phone, the scene from the fictional family in the movie struck a chord with me.
5. Setting time limits is one concrete action that large tech companies could take to better protect children. Devices should be limited to preserve family time and connections because you won’t be able to spend time with your family as you get older. The notion that you can use your phone later rather than now.
Q1. In this documentary, Tristain Harris who was an ethical designer at google criticizes the effects of technology on humanity. Social media apps are competing for people’s attention to keep them engaged on screen. He states that social media manipulates people using their psychology to persuade us (the products) to buy whatever they are advertising. The social media’s growth goal is to keep people coming back to the app and inviting friends with their only intention being to advertise sell and make money. Everything on social media is monitored. For example, how long you look at a post, what makes you happy, your personality, etc. Social media companies like Facebook build models to predict people’s actions. They use those models to predict what emotions would provoke you or what will be your next step. Tristan Harries discusses how depression and anxiety rates have risen since 2010. As technology continues to evolve, people’s mental health continues to worsen. There is a 62% increase in suicide rates of older teenagers and a 189% Increase in preteen girls since 2010. With social media people look up to unrealistic beauty standards causing people to have low self-esteem. People are now less likely to take risks and go out on romantic dates.
Q2. When people have strong opinions it is hard to not be biased against the other side. Everyone is represented with different information which is why people feel so strongly the way they do. I feel like everyone needs to see the same set of facts but it’s unrealistically. For example, as someone whos, ‘s not a republican I’m not going to trump speeches or engage in information from that side. It is understandable why people are so divided and although having the same set of facts being represented would positively impact society, people will still have strong opinions.
Q3. We shouldn’t trust our algorithm at all. All the information being presented to us is solely for the purpose of making social media companies money by advertising things to us. Nothing in our algorithm should be trusted.
Q4. I feel like everyone can relate to the family in the film. It is really hard to stay off your phones. Every time I’m eating or doing anything I’m either on my phone watching or scrolling. My parents also hate that my siblings and I are always on our phones and try to limit our phone usage but it never works. It is an addiction and it is upsetting to see how much our phones control us.
Q5. Some major action tech companies could take is to spread awareness. Spread awareness of screen usage and its negative impacts of it. Also, spread awareness on mental health issues. Lastly, monetize more information that shouldn’t be fed to children’s brains.
The documentary Social Dilemma is about how social media is affecting everyone in the world no matter where you are. But social media is a place where you can see anything, at this point you don’t know what is true and what is false, of course I believe it is important everyone to have the same set of facts but everyone should have the right to have their own opinions, and I do enjoy following people or sources that I disagree to look at their opinions. I think algorithm is pretty helpful sometime but should we 100% trust it ? No definitely not. But it is hard to satisfy everyone on this but the algorithm should not be pushing the idea of those white upper class American, so it wouldn’t be bias. After watching the documentary I believe my family’s relationship with social media is not bad, we do use our phone or laptop but when we have to eat or do something together we drop everything and enjoy the time we spend together. But unfortunately not all family are like us, for example the family in the documentary everyone is so focus on their electronic, it really destroy the relationship between them.
1) The summary of the video we just watched, they can see what others are doing on the phone and affect them using the phone everyday. Affect their health because they haven’t gone outside to hangout or play their favorite sport. They examine each individual from the internet and can track your activities and all they know about you, including images from social media.
2) I believe that in order for us to be able to communicate with individuals, everyone needs to be aware of the same facts. Never judge someone before getting to know them and putting yourself in their shoes. They also need to be aware of the facts and both sides of the issue.
3) No, we shouldn’t have faith in the algorithm because it frequently has a hidden goal. Yes, because they are watching us to see what they can do to take control over what we do every day.
4) Although my family doesn’t mind if we use our phones while having dinner, we aren’t allowed to do so in public because we are dining with the entire family.
5) Limiting teenagers’ screen time can help maintain family time and connections by limiting how much time they spend on technology.
1. The documentary Social Dilemma discusses how social media is designed to encourage addiction to maximize profit. To control people’s emotions, behaviors, and theories. Social Media is a toxic format that collects data to sell advertisements and continues using algorithms to run lives and monitor our daily lives.
2. I believe everyone should have the same set of facts, so they can acknowledge all the facts that everyone sees’. For example facts about abortion, you can create your opinion without hearing every side. In the documentary social media creates an algorithm based on past research and socials. This prevents you from seeing both sides and being biased to one side.
3. I feel like we shouldn’t trust an algorithm to make major decisions, since it develops based on your preferences and a particular group of people with which you are involved in. People are less likely to be open-minded as a result because they will think that only their information is accurate.
4. The family relationship with devices and technology is very toxic. When I get home lay down and watch TikTok. Meanwhile, my parents eat they watch the tv to catch up on news. The only time we sit down and socialize is during the weekends because we all have a free schedule.
5. I feel like the government should create a law to not allow kids younger than 10 years old to own a phone or a technology device. It will help them communicate with one another and mainly focus on school work. Kids will be able to gain many skills that have been lost during the 20th century.
Q1: Kudos to the Directorial team and the former employees of these big tech companies. At the end of the day, everything revolves around money forgetting about the sole purpose of the invention. I once read somewhere quoted by Karl Marx, “The society moves in the Wrong direction in Capitalsm as it revolves around the money and not around humanity.” There is no way to come out of this as we have got stuck in a web. You may like it or hate it, but you can’t avoid social media even though you know the consequences and the secret behind this whole thing. And with that being said you somehow find yourself following people you don’t like or hearing about news you disagree with but still go check it or watch it and comment on it. I personally watch videos or read news I disagree with just out of curiosity.
Q2: Many processes already use algorithms, but the only person who examines the data is a human. A clearly defined collection of actions to solve a problem is all that an algorithm is. If you go to a bank and ask for a loan, they will offer you a form to fill out, and they will use that information to process your request. You won’t obtain it if you don’t have decent credit, any assets, or a job. I keep hearing stories about how algorithms may ruin people’s life, but they’re never compared to how real people typically decide in situations like these. Algorithms already have a significant role in our life decisions, even if we might not be aware of it.
Q3: never works out in the long run. The situation varies of course, but taking our phones simply to make yourself feel better without even considering alternate options to disciplining us will only negatively impact us. I’ve had my phone taken numerous times from my parents , it doesn’t help with discipline.
Q4: Government decision to stop allowing Facebook, Google, and other sites to publish damaging websites. As a result, 50% fewer crimes will occur. It will boost kids’ safety by the same percentage. Following this, other actions or measures must be performed to lower the number of crimes that are spread by computers, mobile devices, and television.
1) The documentary Social Dilemma points out how social media affects our minds and behavior and how it makes us, the users, a product to be sold to advertisement companies. The documentary criticizes the predatory design of the biggest services and companies on the platform and how they manipulate their users into zombies and slaves that need the feel to be always connected.
2) I think it is important for everyone to follow the same set of facts because it reduces the effects that propaganda can have on people. Making sure every person gets the same set of facts allows society to be less radical, extreme, and divided. I don’t follow people who completely disagree with me because I can’t really stand them. For example, fight right Republicans. However, I can follow a person who disagrees with me to a certain point.
3) I think we should trust to a certain degree the algorithm on major decisions such as employment, housing, finances, and the information we see because they are made to learn what we like, how we behave, and what we think, however, I think the last decision to these major decisions should be left to us. because we want to avoid falling into the trap of propaganda and predatory practices.
4) In my family we all have our cell phones and computers, we normally spend the majority of the time we are alone with our cell phones, however, we try to not use our cell phones when we go out or are we eating dinner or lunch. We actually have a joke in my family where when we are together and everyone is using our cell phone we call it the ‘cybernetic hour’. I think a moment in the documentary between the film’s fictional family that felt particularly resonant was the movements at the dinner table where everyone was forced to leave their phone off the table, but my sister and I wanted to use it.
5) I think some concrete actions major tech companies could take to better protect children and preserve your family’s time and connection would be to add limitations on how much time a user can be online or using the app. Reducing the predatory practices of surveillance capitalism and trying to reduce the effects of social approval and the brittle sense of popularity.
From Sogbe
1) The documentary social dilema announces the powerful tool that companies are using to keep us very engaging with our phones and other devices. The documentary warns us of the addiction that comes with using our phones and devices. They inform us about every trick that companies use to make teenagers and young adults addicted to their phones.
1. The documentary Social dilemma discusses how social media takes a toll on our minds. Social media companies collect user data that are later sold to advertisement companies to complete the user-based algorithm.
2. I think it’s important for everyone to have access to the same set of facts. This will prohibit false information to be spread around. I would personally not follow sources I disagree with because I just don’t see a point in why.
3. I believe we could let algorithms make big decisions in our life. Algorithms are based on our actions. It is user based. The algorithms predict our next moves or preferences.
4. Everyone in my family except for my mom is addicted to their phone. Every second of their day is occupied with their phone. Personally, when I’m on my phone there is so much to look at. My mother typically gets frustrated that we are on our phones all the time, even at the dinner table. This causes tensions.
5. some concrete actions that social media and advert companies can do are decreasing the number of notifications that pop up on someone’s phone. They can also create a universal quiet zone.