Introduction
Technological progress has been the engine of human development since the 20th century. A significant number of technologies have been developed and researched since then. Among them, special attention should be paid to artificial intelligence. It is one of the first technologies many scientists and university professors consider potentially dangerous for humanity. The documentary The Social Dilemma explores this problem and its consequences. Ignorant people may fall prey to the development of specific technologies.
The last 10 years in Silicon Valley
Ethical design of products, for example, what a box should look like, and what color it should be, is one of the essential aims in Silicon Valley. Employer of Google describes the importance of the design and its closeness to customers. For example, it brings the moment when a person wakes up in the morning, looks at the smartphone’s screen, and sees the notification. An employee claims they are in Silicon Valley and responsible for how two billion people visit the design of this notification. The research on the impact of innovation and technology on a wide variety of people has formed the basis of Silicon Valley business in the last ten years.
YOU are The Product…
To be the product according to the film means that companies will compete for your attention. Silicon Valley employees say that if one does not buy the product, advertisers will. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and others, not just social networks where people can view information about their friends. They try to offer the user information to capture his attention. In this context, the user is meant as a product.
A Tool
Tristan says that a tool is something that is waiting for you patiently. When something is not a tool, it is manipulating you. It wants one to use it whether they need it or not. Tristan Harris considers the example of the bicycle. It is an addiction and manipulation-based technology environment. Therefore, he concludes that social media is not just a tool that is waiting. It has its own goals and uses a person to manipulate their time.
Climate Change Is…
The connectivity of people by search results impacts our sense of being in society. According to the documentary, people are social species and strive to be together. According to Orlowski, “we have a basic biological imperative to connect with other people. That directly affects the release of dopamine” (0.33.30). Search tools, such as Wikipedia or Google, will adapt a person’s search to the needs of advertisers to take their attention to particular things. Google knows the information about a person’s interests and uses this knowledge to make some profit, although each person has their reality and thoughts.
MIT study
The first thing that a user and companies should do is agree that it is true. In the world of conspiracy theories and a significant amount of fake news, it is essential to understand and distinguish what information is accurate and what is fake. Therefore, a shared understanding of what truth is will help to deal more effectively with fake information.
Existential Threat of Social Media for Humanity
Artificial intelligence is one of the most advanced technologies created by humanity. It not only significantly improves people’s lives in different areas, but it can learn by itself. Consequently, such capacities must be controlled to avoid negative consequences. In the short term, until AI achieves absolute solvency, its existential threat to humanity is improbable.
My Perspective on Social Media’s Role in Society
Documentary The Social Dilemma has completely changed my perception of social media and its role in people’s lives. Previously, I was convinced that social networks like Facebook and Twitter are not a threat to society but a means of communication between people. However, after viewing, I have singled out for myself certain factors, such as dependency and user manipulation, that pose a severe threat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to stress that the issues addressed in the documentary The Social Dilemma by Orlowski require the attention of all people. Today, each user’s responsibility is to avoid harm when using tools such as Social Media and Artificial Intelligence.
Work Cited
The Social Dilemma. Directed by Orlowski, Exposure Labs, 2020.