The Social Dilemma

Key Insights: The Social Dilemma

• Core Premise: A small group of tech designers exerts unprecedented influence over the thoughts, behaviors, and lives of billions of people.
• The Mental Health Dilemma: A 2017 study (American Journal of Epidemiology) of 5,000 people linked increased social media usage to declines in mental health, physical health, and life satisfaction.
• The Democracy Dilemma: Political disinformation campaigns on social media platforms doubled in frequency between 2017 and 2019 (New York Times).
• The Discrimination Dilemma: An internal 2018 Facebook report revealed that 64% of users who joined extremist groups were directed there by platform algorithms.
• Film Accolades:
  • Winner of 2 Primetime Emmy Awards.
  • Webby Award winner.
  • Reached 38 million viewers in its first four weeks.
• Production: Directed by the creators of Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral; the film utilizes a hybrid of documentary investigation and narrative drama.
• Mission: To expose the hidden mechanisms of social media and search platforms and advocate for changes in how technology is designed, regulated, and utilized.
• Engagement Opportunities: The project encourages public action through youth-led debates, community screenings, and "social media reboot" initiatives.