This docu-drama has been released on Netflix. It tells us how our mind is controlled in myriad ways by social media platforms. All the strategies have been implemented deliberately, though the efficiency with which they worked out may not have been predicted. The ‘like’ button has tremendous consequences, though when it was being developed at ‘Facebook’ the team kept it as an expression of love and positivity. There are instances where a lack of ‘likes’ could lead to depression. In fact, we have been seduced by technology, and are at its mercy. The film is not something new, but it puts together the abstract concepts into a scary whole.
Mr. Rosenten is on camera here. He is from Silicon Valley. The narrative is built by the employees who were associated with social media to begin with. Many techies left their remunerative jobs for a variety of reasons. There are ethical considerations. The media is addictive. It has the potential to polarize the society. It propagates fake news. It is a crazy world. Is this normal or are we under a spell?
Smartphones have cast their spell. We are hooked to these devices for several hours in a day. They deliver data ceaselessly. We love tagging Facebook has used this feature to its advantage. Scrolling is magnetic. Keep pulling down and refresh. There is something fresh and new at the top. This interface is akin to a casino.
There are funny dramatizations. There are all seeing and all-knowing algorithms. There are invites to friends to drive up the usage.
They collect tremendous personal information. We are lured by advertisements. In the process, data is being collected. The feeds then reinforce our beliefs. We are immersed into alternative realities.The data is subjected to AI to make the user a puppet and the behaviour of this puppet could be predicted by AI. It tries to increase the size of the audience and weaves an emotional illusion around the puppet-like users. There are clickbaits of likes, comments, tagging and messages
Many feel that as we have the power of click. We are the controllers. In fact we are the products for companies. Their consumers are the advertisers.
Social media could be paid a few lac dollars to tilt the opinion of 7 billion people in the world in our favour. This is an opportunity for a corporate or a political organisation.
Social networks blur fact and fiction. They could be a threat to democracy. Maybe, the whole docu-drama itself is a concoction — but it has the ringtone of truth.
Tristan Harris, formerly design Strategist of Google, feels that internet has become a force to destablise a country with the least effort, and within the boundaries of law.