How Social Media Controls Humans
SOURCE: The Social Dilemma - A Netflix Documentary
Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash
Attention-Grabbing Design: Social media platforms are designed to grab and keep our attention. Features like notifications, likes, and endless scrolling make us spend more time on these platforms.
Personalized Content: Social media algorithms show us content that they think we'll like, based on our previous behaviors. This can create "echo chambers" where we only see content that confirms our existing beliefs.
Psychological Manipulation: Social media platforms exploit our psychological vulnerabilities. Notifications and likes trigger feelings of pleasure, making us addicted to checking our phones. Comparing ourselves to others on social media can also make us feel insecure.
Data Collection: Social media platforms collect a lot of information about us, like our personal details and online activities. They use this data to target us with ads and track our behavior.
Influencing Behavior: Social media can influence our behavior and opinions through targeted advertising and personalized content. It can shape our preferences and actions without us even realizing it.
Spreading Misinformation: Social media algorithms prioritize engagement, which means they show us content that gets a lot of attention, even if it's false or sensationalized. This can lead to the rapid spread of misinformation.
Polarization and Fragmentation: Algorithms that show us content based on our preferences can create "bubbles" where we only interact with like-minded people. This can divide society and make it harder to have constructive conversations.
Addiction and Time Wasting: Social media platforms want us to spend as much time as possible on their platforms. This can lead to addictive behavior and make us waste time that could be spent on more meaningful activities.
Lack of Transparency: Social media platforms are not always transparent about how they operate. They don't always tell us how our data is used or how their algorithms work. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for users to make informed choices.
Note: The points listed above summarize the insights provided by "The Social Dilemma - A Netflix Documentary" regarding how social media platforms control human behavior.