Hi, Im writing a film evaluation essay on The Social Dilemma on Netflix. Ive already written my essay, but I want to make sure everything sounds good. Id like it to feel natural and simple, and Im open to adding anything that could make it better. Please dont make it sound like it was written by AI. I also want help improving how I start and end my paragraphs, as well as how I transition between them. My essay includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. If anything sounds robotic, please help me fix it. I just need help revising the essay I wrote. My essay is below. I dont want another essay just want mine fixed and better
The Social Dilemma, directed and produced by Jeff Orlowski, is a powerful documentary that explores the dangers of social media. The film interviews several former employees of big tech companies such as Google, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Pinterest that explain how these sites use antics to grab users’ attention and keep them engaged. The film discusses how social media controls users through notifications and algorithms, the impact on mental health, and offers solutions.
One of the arguments in the film is that these platforms goal is to manipulate users rather than connect them. Roger McNamee, a Facebook early investor and venture capitalist, states that tech companies dont sell products anymore, they sell users (00:12:49). The longer users scroll, the more data these platforms collect, and the more they can target users with advertisement. The manipulation goes further to influence users identity without them realizing it. Jaron Lanier, a computer scientist and author, explains, Its the gradual, slight, imperceptible change in your own behavior and perception that is the product (00:14:20). Sandy Parakilas explains how social media companies use growth tactics to get people to spend more time on their apps. The film illustrates this by showing a teenage boy in class who loses his attention when he receives a notification. This shows how fast social media platforms can grab users attention to keep them engaged on their platforms. Social media manipulation leads to effects on users’ mental health.
The film also talks about how the design of these platforms affects users’ mental health, especially teenagers. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, points out We see a dramatic increase in depression and anxiety among teenagers (00:40:00). The girl takes a selfie using a filter. She feels happy at first, but after reading a negative comment, she runs to the bathroom and cries in front of the mirror. Social media can affect the way people see themselves because they fear how others perceive them. This can lead to insecurity, affect mental health, and even result in suicide, which is why it is important to take action.
The film suggests ways for users to stay safe on social media. Jaron Lanier argues, the only way to win is to get out of the system (01:24:40). Users need to stop using these platforms if they dont make their platforms safe for users. Its hard to completely stop using these platforms, but as long as users use them they can be manipulated. Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, suggests, We can demand that these products be designed more humanely (01:28:03). We have the power to force social media platforms to be safer because we are the reason they are making money.
Before watching The Social Dilemma, I knew how harmful social media was because of my grandmother warning me, but I still used it because it was entertaining. I knew that social media can affect users mentally, but The Social Dilemma revealed to me that social media manipulates users through algorithms and notifications. It also offers solutions to users, which I agree with, because companies should make their platforms safe, but we also should be careful about how we use their platforms. We need to change our habits since the companies wont change theirs, or else we will continue to be controlled by them.