The Social Dilemma is a 2020 American docudrama film directed by Jeff Orlowski and written by Orlowski, Davis Coombe, and Vickie Curtis.
The film explores the negative social effects of social media and the manipulation techniques used by technology companies to addict users. The documentary features interviews with industry insiders, including Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist, and Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU Stern School of Business.
The film delves into the psychological underpinnings and manipulation techniques used by social media and technology companies to addict users. It highlights the three main goals of tech companies: the engagement goal, the growth goal, and the advertisement goal. The documentary also discusses the dangers of fake news and the impact of social media on mental health, particularly in younger adolescents.
The film received generally positive reviews, with an approval rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics praised the film for its portrayal of the addictive effects of social media and its exposure of the strategies used by tech companies to increase usage and data extraction. However, some critics noted that the dramatic reenactments featured in the film were unrealistic and detracted from the overall impact of the documentary.
The film was nominated for several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards, and the Cinema Eye Honors Awards. It won the Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
The film was produced by Larissa Rhodes and directed by Jeff Orlowski. It premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and was released worldwide on Netflix on September 9, 2020. The documentary features a cast of actors portraying a family of five, highlighting various perspectives of social media usage and its influence on their daily lives.
The film was viewed in 38,000,000 homes within the first 28 days of release and received widespread critical acclaim. It was praised for its portrayal of the addictive effects of social media and its exposure of the strategies used by tech companies to increase usage and data extraction. However, some critics noted that the dramatic reenactments featured in the film were unrealistic and detracted from the overall impact of the documentary.
Facebook released a statement on its about page that the film "gives a distorted view of how social media platforms work." The film's director, Jeff Orlowski, responded by stating that his documentary was "an insider’s perspective" of Silicon Valley and that it aimed to expose the manipulation techniques used by tech companies to addict users.
The film has had a significant impact on the public's perception of social media and its effects on mental health. It has also sparked a wider conversation about the need for regulation and accountability in the tech industry.