J.O — ORIGINAL WORK

12 October 2024

Film Analysis Essay

The Social Dilemma is a documentary about the dangers of technology and media. This essay is based on the following quote from the film: "It’s not about the technology being the existential threat. It’s the technology’s ability to bring out the worst in society and the worst in society being the existential threat"

The Social Dilemma

The quote “It’s not about the technology being the existential threat. It’s the technology’s ability to bring out the worst in society and the worst in society being the existential threat,” from The Social Dilemma explains the main idea of how technology, especially social media, does not necessarily pose a danger, but rather increases the worst parts of human nature. Rather than blaming technology itself, it blames how technology brings forward our impulses and creates destructive social behaviour.

The quote suggests that technology, as it is, is neutral. It is something created by humans, and in many ways, can be used for good, as it helps us communicate, share knowledge, and solve problems. However, the issue comes up when technology is designed in a way that feeds on human behaviour, mainly our weaknesses. Social media algorithms, for example, are created to keep our attention, using what the app knows about our personalities, and our need for validation and relatability. Instead of only existing as platforms for connecting with others and sharing information, these technologies promote behaviours that can divide our society and spread misinformation. The main problem isn’t the technology itself, but how it draws out negative behaviours like anger, fear, radicalisation, violence, and selfishness. This process is what the quote refers to as ‘the true existential threat,’ the way that technology puts our flaws against us.

When social media platforms were first introduced, they were seen as tools to bring people together and share information. However, in the search of profit, tech companies designed these platforms to prioritise engagement above all else. The more time users spend on the platform, the more ads they see, and the more money the companies make. As a result, algorithms were made to feed users content that would keep them online. According to my research, human nature has a tendency to respond more to negative stimulation—whether it's fear, outrage, or division. This is known as negativity bias, where negative experiences and information have a stronger impact on people than positive ones. For example, during election seasons or the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation was everywhere, which has real-world consequences such as violence or anti-vaccination. False news spreads faster than real, unbiased news on social media because it triggers stronger emotional responses, such as anger and fear, which in turn creates more engagement. According to VeryWell Mind, “people have less motivation when an incentive is framed as a means to gain something than when the same incentive will help them avoid the loss of something,” (Kendra Cherry).

From personal experience, I’ve noticed how easy it is to get drawn into the negativity on social media. I might go on Instagram or TikTok with the intention of checking in with friends, but I can quickly find myself scrolling through all kinds of dividing and opinionated posts that the algorithm curated for me. Even when I try to avoid it, they seem to push this type of content, even with simplest actions, like putting the most aggressive comments at the top of the comments section, making it almost impossible to avoid exposing yourself to negativity online. This is what makes the situation dangerous, as technology has learned to exploit our negative curiosity—even when we are aware of it.

In conclusion, the quote from The Social Dilemma explains how it’s not the technology itself that is dangerous, but how they can amplify our worst traits. By allowing it to control and exploit our human weaknesses, we put ourselves at risk of creating a society that is divided when it shouldn’t always be. To address this ‘existential threat’ as stated in the quote, we need to rethink the design of these platforms and encourage better behaviour online, which involves changes in how we engage with the information and other people on social media.

Works Cited

Book, Joakim. “How Bad Is Our Social Dilemma? – AIER.” AIER – American Institute for Economic Research, 25 Nov. 2020,

https://aier.org/article/how-bad-is-our-social-dilemma/.

Briens, Tilly. “The Social Dilemma – Famous Publicity.” Famous Publicity, 30 Sept. 2020, https://famouspublicity.com/the-social-dilemma/.

Cherry, Kendra. “Negative Bias: Why We’re Hardwired for Negativity.” Verywell Mind, DotDash Media Inc., 13 Nov. 2023, https://www.verywellmind.com/negative-bias-4589618.