Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today after watching a documentary over the weekend and I thought I should share it with all of you.
The documentary is titled “The Social Dilemma,” and it was eye-opening to say the least. It explains what is happening behind the scenes when we “like” or click on a link on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
When I first became aware of social media, I thought these sites were collecting data about their users to sell to advertisers and this is happening I’m sure, but there’s another more sinister process going on here.
What social media doing is working very hard to keep you engaged. That’s right. We are the product. Our thinking. Our opinions. It’s all being processed, and we’re being manipulated to stay engaged with social media by the items that show up in our newsfeed.
For example, let’s say I like elephants. So, I like or comment on a random post about elephants and this gets processed by Facebook and suddenly, I find all kinds of images of elephants showing up. It’s to keep me engaged. So, social media is stealing our time and taking it away from other things, like face to face interactions. We are the product folks. Let’s use social media wisely, and if you get a chance, check out the documentary. You’ll be glad you did.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post today, I appreciate it! How do you feel about social media? Leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you!
I haven’t seen it yet, but I certainly will. This all takes data mining to a new level and it makes me very nervous!
Me, too! I’m so glad my boys aren’t on social media. However, I’m sure they’ll find a way to get control of video games, too! They just aren’t there yet.
Just wait…unfortunately.
I know. It’s not going to be good. That’s for sure.
Scary world we live in, Lisa. Thanks for the recommendation. I’m gonna check it out on Netflix. Cheers, girlfriend!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon! I appreciate the support! 🙂
I have seen some parts of this documentary. I would say it is not at all new in terms of many things. These companies are well known for having a business built around snooping on the users.
Yes, they do, but it goes much deeper than that. They’re trying to keep us engaged by analyzing our likes. Then they post things based on that information regardless of whether it’s true or not. This then influences our behavior. So, it brings the problem to a whole other level. 😦 Thanks for stopping by, Arv!
Yes, the medium also being used to shape opinion. Anyway, it is not new. First it was newspaper and magazines. Remember how the people the USA started eating cereals after a campaign was created powered by Kellogg’s? Edward Bernays is where it all started. The women picking cigarettes, shaping the public opinion on US joining WW II……Read this write-up online. The manipulation of the American mind: Edward Bernays and the birth of public relations
I will definitely do that. Thanks for the recommendation. I appreciate it, Arv. You are so right, this is nothing new, but still scary to me. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate reading your point of view. 🙂
Yes, it is. See what you can do to improve the situation.
Will do! 🙂
🙂
I really need to watch this documentary! Sounds good.
It was eye-opening, that’s for sure!
Thanks for stopping by, Lydia!
A lot of people have been recommending this to me. I must watch this. It’s scary how we are being manipulated!
It really is, Corinne. If you get a chance, watch this show, it’s worth the time. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Corinne!
It’s so SCARY, when I think: I haven’t even told anyone I’m interested in, say, elephants, and there they appear all over my social media. If I wasn’t a writer in need of some sort of platform, I probably wouldn’t use half the social media I do–a necessary evil.
I hear you, Rebecca. I feel the same way. It is a necessary evil. There are some benefits to social media, so let’s hope the powers that be take these disadvantages and make sure we’re using it for good instead of evil. Fingers crossed.