"The Social Dilemma" implications

#1
kiddiedoc

kiddiedoc

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#1
We watched the documentary today, and I found it extremely disturbing. I think we all know that some of our information is being harvested, but this really opened my eyes.

I have already made a couple of changes and am crafting a set of guidelines for my family. I'm also going to get a printed guide together for parents in my office.

I would love to hear suggestions for how other parents handle social media for their children, and for themselves.

My thoughts so far (some already in place):
- turn off all notifications
- set age limits (16? 18?) for social media apps
- no phones/devices an hour before bedtime, all put up on chargers out of the bedrooms
- all games set to "private," where only friends are visible
- no personal data, names, location, etc
- no sharing planned trips, even locally
- no pics in any kind of revealing clothes (dance, gym clothes, bathing suits, etc)
- consider eliminating social media apps entirely
 
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#4
#4
kiddiedoc said:
We watched the documentary today, and I found it extremely disturbing. I think we all know that some of our information is being harvested, but this really opened my eyes.

I have already made a couple of changes and am crafting a set of guidelines for my family. I'm also going to get a printed guide together for parents in my office.

I would love to hear suggestions for how other parents handle social media for their children, and for themselves.

My thoughts so far (some already in place):
- turn off all notifications
- set age limits (16? 18?) for social media apps
- no phones/devices an hour before bedtime, all put up on chargers out of the bedrooms
- all games set to "private," where only friends are visible
- no personal data, names, location, etc
- no sharing planned trips, even locally
- no pics in any kind of revealing clothes (dance, gym clothes, bathing suits, etc)
- consider eliminating social media apps entirely
Click to expand...
Can you give a quick synopsis of what the social dilemma is?
 
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#7
#7
golfballs said:
Can you give a quick synopsis of what the social dilemma is?
Click to expand...
The documentary interviews a number of former developers and execs from the largest social media platforms. They discuss how apps are designed to harvest information, rope in users, keep us scrolling, etc in order to drive advertising revenue. It also touches on the dopamine/reward pathway and addiction. The implications are quite alarming.
 
#8
#8
kiddiedoc said:
The documentary interviews a number of former developers and execs from the largest social media platforms. They discuss how apps are designed to harvest information, rope in users, keep us scrolling, etc in order to drive advertising revenue. It also touches on the dopamine/reward pathway and addiction. The implications are quite alarming.
Click to expand...
I think it also goes a long way to explain the worsening tribalism we’ve seen in the last decade. People are more inclined to read posts or tweets from people they agree with, and these companies are more than happy to “curate” your content to do so because that keeps you on longer and they sell more ads. So people who use FB, IG, TW a lot see a constant stream of posts from people they agree with, and like any good propaganda scheme eventually they think that’s how everyone else thinks. And to not think that way makes you a fringe lunatic.
 
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#9
#9
DancingOutlaw said:
I think it also goes a long way to explain the worsening tribalism we’ve seen in the last decade. People are more inclined to read posts or tweets from people they agree with, and these companies are more than happy to “curate” your content to do so because that keeps you on longer and they sell more ads. So people who use FB, IG, TW a lot see a constant stream of posts from people they agree with, and like any good propaganda scheme eventually they think that’s how everyone else thinks. And to not think that way makes you a fringe lunatic.
Click to expand...
It also removes direct communication/interaction from the picture.

We communicate much more than just with words, body language, tone etc. For example the blue font issue. Much easier to catch sarcasm irl. But then we are also programmed to form bonds with those we communicate fully with in person, the digital media cant recreate that. So even if you dont agree any more irl you are much more likely to respect that other person via a face to face than digital only format.

In a sense when interacting online you arent interacting with real people. So you naturally dehumanize them and their views.

And then you get the trolls. Not as many irl.
 
#11
#11
YankeeVol said:
It's already too late
Click to expand...
other than VN, I'm not on any social media. I do play some free2play online games on the Switch, like Fortnite, and while I've never spent any money on those games and they do not have ads I can now see how I have wasted a lot of time chasing worthless in-game rewards and upgrades. I'm probably getting rid of my Switch.

I got rid of my smart phone last year. I'm around computers enough as it is. I don't receive email or have any apps installed on my flip phone. I am much more aware of how much time other people spend on their devices and it makes me realize how much time I spent on mine.

I talked to my sister who watched the movie. She has four tweens/teenagers, 12-19. She said the movie was scary but she is not prepared to deal with the blowback of significantly curtailing or eliminating social media use for her minor children. As a non-parent who was raised in an era when corporal punishment was still widely used, I cannot relate to this.
 
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#13
#13
VolunteerHillbilly said:
I talked to my sister who watched the movie. She has four tweens/teenagers, 12-19. She said the movie was scary but she is not prepared to deal with the blowback of significantly curtailing or eliminating social media use for her minor children. As a non-parent who was raised in an era when corporal punishment was still widely used, I cannot relate to this.
Click to expand...

I have a friend in a similar situation. It's hard for me to relate to that, as well.

I think the movie was actually well-received and understood, to a degree, by my kids. We will remain in discussion on the matter going forward.
 
#14
#14
kiddiedoc said:
I have a friend in a similar situation. It's hard for me to relate to that, as well.

I think the movie was actually well-received and understood, to a degree, by my kids. We will remain in discussion on the matter going forward.
Click to expand...

It’s okay for kids to watch?
 
#16
#16
Just like the regular news Social Media has become terrible for our society. Its an addiction that needs to be curbed. However for todays youth it is what they've grown up with and a huge part of their sense of normal as well as a symbol of social status. I remember when it was cool to have a myspace, then it was Facebook then twitter now tik Tok and I'm sure there will be others in the future. Also in todays world with parents working more than ever and working for home, its an easy baby sitter to sit your kid in front of a screen while trying to get something done.
 
#17
#17
kiddiedoc said:
The documentary interviews a number of former developers and execs from the largest social media platforms. They discuss how apps are designed to harvest information, rope in users, keep us scrolling, etc in order to drive advertising revenue. It also touches on the dopamine/reward pathway and addiction. The implications are quite alarming.
Click to expand...

haven't watched but familiar with some of the stuff I'm aware of here (bolded) is worrisome - games like Candy Crush are masters at this.
 
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#18
#18
kiddiedoc said:
The documentary interviews a number of former developers and execs from the largest social media platforms. They discuss how apps are designed to harvest information, rope in users, keep us scrolling, etc in order to drive advertising revenue. It also touches on the dopamine/reward pathway and addiction. The implications are quite alarming.
Click to expand...

They work similarly to slot machines.
 
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#20
#20
Havent watched the movie but I’m on board with all of OP’s points.

My kids are still under 10. They dont have phones and wont for many years still. We limit screen time as it is so even when they get one the rules are already established.

As for myself, I have never taken to social media. I have accounts but am not active. I do recognize my own screen addictions though. Iphone has a screen time function that limits usage to X hours per day or during Y-Z hours. I’ve been using it and cut my daily time down by 30%. There is a family feature to control kids accounts as well.
 
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#21
#21
golfballs said:
Not sure about it destroying our society. I think it’s by-product of our society.
Click to expand...

I’ve been saying its given a platform to the narcissism of human nature.

That said, the curated content is contributing to the tribal bubbles. I’ve seen it play out on my own FB. I’m rarely on it but when I do scroll I will drop a couple likes. Recently I realized I don’t see some old high shcool “friends” posts anymore. Some others I see much more often. The difference? Political leanings and articles shared. This has even lead to my mom’s post being “hidden” from my feed 😂
 
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#22
#22
It's just the new version of TV. The design (entertain, addict, analyze, advertise) is the same, but it's more interactive and more chaotic and spread out. 40 years ago, TV advertisers (I think) were the most influential force in society. In the USA at least, there were only 3 channels, so an advertiser could generally catch 1/3 of the audience with one shot. A single advertiser could pay for an entire show forever and it was a bargain. Now there are literally a billion channels, so google allows people to put ads on those billions of channels. This is not new, but the ability to play an ad for an individual person is new. You need to resist advertising. If you resist it, then it doesn't matter how much advertising you actually see. It's advertising. I wouldn't be rational to just believe anything other than advertising is appeal to give others your money.
 
#23
#23
I don't create any political content online. A lot I see on facebook looks like it was simply designed to make the person forwarding it look stupid. To me, that is worrisome. I don't argue with anybody, because honestly, nobody cares.
 
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#25
#25
kiddiedoc said:
The documentary interviews a number of former developers and execs from the largest social media platforms. They discuss how apps are designed to harvest information, rope in users, keep us scrolling, etc in order to drive advertising revenue. It also touches on the dopamine/reward pathway and addiction. The implications are quite alarming.
Click to expand...

Basically, everything fun or good gives you dopamine rewards. Mentioning the dopamine reward pathway and addiction is the oldest trick in the book for fear mongers. You can get addicted to anything you really like, whether it's food, or dungeons & dragons, or whatever **** you're into.

The rule of thumb with everything....food, dungeons & dragons, video games, social media, drinking, drugs, etc. is moderation in all things. If you can't handle your **** because you have an addictive personality or this one particular thing is too pleasurable for you to handle, then you need to cut it off. For everybody else, it's OK to get dopamine from those sources.
 
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