Directed by Emmy-winning director Jeff Orlowski, The Social Dilemma, available exclusively on Netflix, pulls back the curtain on the amorality of tech giants, which has been swept under the rug for far too long. Ex-Google employee Tristan Harris realized that a handful of designers and engineers influenced the way millions of people around the world direct their attention when consuming emails. Therefore, he created a presentation that exposes big social media companies’ manipulation of users through algorithms that encourage addiction to their platforms. Harris shared the presentation with several colleagues, and it quickly spread to more than 5,000 Google employees and CEO Larry Page. As a result, Harris created an open dialogue about what he called the “social dilemma.” But Harris wasn’t prepared to stop there, so he created the non-profit Center for Humane Technology, which aims to mitigate the profit mongering the big tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Apple. 

In the movie, three imaginary “people” live inside and manipulate a teenager’s brain to capitalize on his attention to gain ad revenue. These three imaginary people represent the three big tech companies, which manipulate people’s minds so they can profit as much as possible. Up to now, they have been largely unregulated. 

The addictive quality of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), fomented by social media, wires teenagers to use these platforms whenever they have a moment of free time. This is just one of many manipulation tactics social networks use that appalled Harris. “If you’re not paying for the product, then you’re the product,” said Andrew Lewis, a politician, and attorney, serving as a member of the Seattle City Council. Social Networks lure people by making them think they are interacting with friends, while, in reality, this interaction is a façade, and their privacy is being sold.

After watching the documentary you might feel a strong urge to delete your social media, even though as Harris points out, social media has done many great things for the world like helping people find organ donors on social media, and users can connect with friends around the world with a press of a button. 

But if you do suffer from this addiction, try to delete your social media and see how long you can last. The Social Dilemma is a compelling and relevant watch. I highly recommend it for anybody who feels technology and screens dominate their lives.