Module 8 EDU 790: The Potluck Module - The Social Dilemma
I recently watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix with my fiancé. He had already watched it and for me it was my first time. It was one of my goals this school year and it was especially eye opening as I took this class. As a psychology teacher, I am well versed in the behavioral techniques like reinforcement schedules and the reward pathways in the brain that social networking sites use to increase user interface with their platforms. Anyone who is in denial of the addictive nature of these platforms needs to take read more about B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning and about the powerful neurotransmitter dopamine in addiction. I found the documentary enlightening and powerful. I think it's important to hear first hand accounts from business insiders who know the ins and outs of these major tech giants.
I was especially impressed by computer scientist and ethicist Tristan Harris who used to work for Google and who in 2013 wrote A Call to Minimize Distraction and Respect Users' Attention which received quite a bit of attention from his fellow coworkers at Google and throughout the industry about the ethical responsibility tech companies have to their users. He later went out to start a nonprofit called Center for Humane Technology which hopes to change digital infrastructure to make it more humane, increase well being in users, and promote democracy. In the documentary he argues that social media companies have moved away from tools based technology to an addiction and manipulation based technology environment and this is primarily due to the model under which these companies operate which is to increase --> growth, engagement, and advertisements. These companies did not imagine the far reaching effects their platforms could have and now need to put more safeguards into place due to the increase in mental health issues of users, political repercussions, and addiction.
I actually strongly disagree with the criticisms of the film by Casey Newton in The Verge and Annie Collier from Net Family News about how the film is patronizing and that youth should feel insulted in how they were portrayed. The film is not designed to be the 'end all be all' to the conversation of social media and how it should be ethically used, it should be a jumping off point and a continuous conversation about how to reform a system that has grown out of control. I personally do not believe that in a capitalist system in the United States, there is any incentive for these large tech giants to regulate themselves for the common good when profit is and has always been their bottom line. I support government regulation of tech companies just like we regulate other industries to not pollute or to sell products that won't harm or kill people. I understand also the immense good that it has done to help spread awareness of causes and protests against unjust regimes. I am reminded of the Arab Spring and the role social media played in helping overthrow regimes in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia.
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