REACTION PAPER:

THE SOCIAL DILEMMA

In the world today, almost everything is hi-tech. Technology has progressed over
the years. It became integrated with people’s lives. Social media is one of the things
created because of technology. Most people have access to the internet and own social
media accounts. It is used for communication, business, information, and many more. In
just a click, family members can talk even they are miles away from each other. Unlike
before, sending a letter or message may take weeks or even months to be received.
Nowadays, online selling became popular because everyone is staying at their homes
due to the safety protocols imposed by the government. It is profitable for sellers
especially for the people who lost their jobs; at the same time convenient for the buyers.
There is a lot of information on social media from reliable or unreliable sources. People
can easily access this information for education, research, etc. Social media made lives
easier, quick, and convenient.

Our lives changed because of social media. Most people, always have their
phones with them because they might receive an important message or they just can’t
live without their phones. Some of them look at their phones first thing in the morning to
check if there are notifications, messages, news, etc. Even in reunions or a simple
bonding, they are on their phones scrolling on social media instead of talking to the
people around them. They are not aware that they are losing the actual connection
between the people who are with them. Once they open their phones, they don’t realize
that an hour has passed just because of checking their social media accounts. It is
designed to be addictive and persuasive. Even the persons in the tech industry who are
behind the creation of these social media platforms fall into these traps. Daily usage of
social media may cause negative effects on mental health. Just simply looking at a
person’s timeline, highlights, and stories can make others insecure and jealous of their
lives. We see a lot of beautiful girls on social media and thinking that their lives are
perfect but we don’t realize that what we see is not their reality. A picture or a video of a
smiling person doesn’t mean they’re truly happy and don’t have problems, we don’t
know the reality behind those posts. Some depend their worth and identity on the likes
and comments they received on their post. They look at the unrealistic standards of
society and seek social approval. They don’t realize that they’re in a never-ending
chase for perfection to please everyone. But in reality, there is no such thing as a
“perfect life.” Some become depressed, anxious, and frustrated whenever they don’t
meet these standards. Generation Z faces these struggles because they are early
exposed to modern technology, especially social media. It is heartbreaking to know that
a child is hating his/her body because of what he/she sees on the internet. Social media
has a huge impact and influence on people’s lives. People can easily be persuaded by
the opinions of others. Instead of bringing society together, these may lead to chaos
and become out of control. Global assault on democracy can bring out the worst of
society. Social media affects people’s behavior, emotions, beliefs, and how they
perceive themselves.

Moreover, a lot of data and information can be easily accessed by everyone who
is connected to the internet. Experts said that everything done on the internet is
monitored and recorded to predict the user’s actions and interests. They gather these
data to identify the things that will keep the user engaged and get their attention by
showing the things they are interested in. Fake news spread six times faster than the
truth. Social media is biased towards misinformation and rumors because it makes
more money. People view false information as entertainment, for them, the truth is
boring. Some people post what they do, where they are, their thoughts, or almost
everything about their lives without being aware that they are giving up their privacy.
Nowadays, hacking, loss of data, scams or fraud, cyberattacks, and many more threats
are experienced by a lot of people due to lack of privacy and weak security. In my
opinion, life is more than what you post on social media. Living life is not about posting,
liking, or discussing on the internet. Don’t let social media control and change you. Live
your life and be who you are.

The documentary film effectively conveyed the message. People in the tech
industry were interviewed, they gave their opinions and insights about the social media
platforms that they created. Some of them were former presidents, developers, and
designers. The documentary film well-portrayed the effects of social media in real life.
This should be recommended for people to watch especially students to become aware
and informed of the problems and consequences of the technology.