The Social Dilemma (2020)

Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.

Director:

Jeff Orlowski

Writers:

Davis Coombe, Vickie Curtis

Stars:

Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tristan Harris	...	Self - Google, Former Design Ethicist / Center for Humane Society, Co-Founder
Jeff Seibert	...	Self - Twitter, Former Executive / Serial Tech Entrepreneur
Bailey Richardson	...	Self - Instagram, Early Team
Joe Toscano	...	Self - Google, Former Experience Design Consultant / Author - Automating Humanity
Sandy Parakilas	...	Self - Facebook, Former Operations Manager / Uber, Former Product Manager
Guillaume Chaslot	...	Self - YouTube, Former Engineer / IntuitiveAI, CEO / AlgoTransparency, Founder
Lynn Fox	...	Self - Apple, Former Director of Corporate PR / Google, Former Corporate Communications
Aza Raskin	...	Self - Firefox & Mozilla Labs, Former Employee / Center for Humane Technology, Co-Founder / Inventor, Infinite Scroll
Alex Roetter	...	Self - Twitter, Former Senior VP of Engineering
Tim Kendall	...	Self - Facebook, Former Executive / Pinterest, Former President / Moment, CEO
Justin Rosenstein	...	Self - Facebook, Former Engineer / Google, Former Engineer / Asana, Co-Founder
Randy Fernando	...	Self - NVIDIA, Former Product Manager / Mindful Schools, Former Executive Director / Center for Humane Society, Co-Founder (as Randima 'Randy' Fernando)
Jaron Lanier	...	Self - Founding Father of Virtual Reality / Computer Scientist
Roger McNamee	...	Self - Facebook, Early Investor / Venture Capitalist
Shoshana Zuboff	...	Self - Harvard Business School, Professor Emeritus / Author, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism (as Shoshana Zuboff Ph.D.)

Storyline

Set in the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley, The Social Dilemma fuses investigative documentary with enlightening narrative drama. Expert testimony from tech whistle-blowers exposes our disturbing predicament: the services Big Tech provides-search engines, networks, instant information, etc.-are merely the candy that lures us to bite. Once we're hooked and coming back for more, the real commodity they sell is their prowess to influence and manipulate us.

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Plot Keywords:

society | social media | internet | internet culture | social network | 

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Taglines:

The technology that connects us also controls us.

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements, disturbing/violent images and suggestive material

Did You Know?

Quotes

Tristan Harris - Google, Former Design Ethicist: How do you wake up from the Matrix when you don't know you're in the Matrix?

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Alternate Versions

After its Sundance premiere in January 2020, the documentary was updated to include a segment on the growing number of social media conspiracy theories related to COVID-19.

User Reviews

The Unnecessary Scripted Part is Distracting

Truly eye-opening piece about social media and its effects on our world. The only quibble I have with it is the scripted portion of the show, which was unnecessary and distracting.

Show this to the Gen Z'ers in your family, which will, of course, cause eye-rolling and "Ok, boomer" to roll out of their mouths. Still, maybe it will hit home with them eventually.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Derrière nos écrans de fumée

Company Credits

Production Co:

Exposure Labs, Argent Pictures, The Space Program

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color