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IMDbPro

The Social Dilemma

  • 2020
  • PG-13
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
92K
YOUR RATING
Shoshana Zuboff and Justin Rosenstein in The Social Dilemma (2020)
We tweet, we like, and we share -- but what are the consequences of our growing dependence on social media? As digital platforms increasingly become a lifeline to stay connected, Silicon Valley insiders reveal how social media is reprogramming civilization by exposing what's hiding on the other side of your screen.
Play trailer2:24
2 Videos
38 Photos
Science & Technology DocumentaryDocumentaryDrama

Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking; tech experts sound the alarm on their own creations.Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking; tech experts sound the alarm on their own creations.Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking; tech experts sound the alarm on their own creations.

  • Director
    • Jeff Orlowski-Yang
  • Writers
    • Vickie Curtis
    • Davis Coombe
    • Jeff Orlowski-Yang
  • Stars
    • Tristan Harris
    • Jeff Seibert
    • Bailey Richardson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    92K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jeff Orlowski-Yang
    • Writers
      • Vickie Curtis
      • Davis Coombe
      • Jeff Orlowski-Yang
    • Stars
      • Tristan Harris
      • Jeff Seibert
      • Bailey Richardson
    • 640User reviews
    • 90Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:24
    Official Trailer
    The Social Dilemma: More Information
    Clip 0:52
    The Social Dilemma: More Information
    The Social Dilemma: More Information
    Clip 0:52
    The Social Dilemma: More Information

    Photos37

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    + 34
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    Top cast61

    Edit
    Tristan Harris
    Tristan Harris
    • Self - Google, Former Design Ethicist…
    Jeff Seibert
    Jeff Seibert
    • Self - Twitter, Former Executive…
    Bailey Richardson
    Bailey Richardson
    • Self - Instagram, Early Team
    Joe Toscano
    Joe Toscano
    • Self - Google, Former Experience Design Consultant…
    Sandy Parakilas
    Sandy Parakilas
    • Self - Facebook, Former Operations Manager…
    Guillaume Chaslot
    Guillaume Chaslot
    • Self - YouTube, Former Engineer…
    Lynn Fox
    Lynn Fox
    • Self - Apple, Former Director of Corporate PR…
    Aza Raskin
    Aza Raskin
    • Self - Firefox & Mozilla Labs, Former Employee…
    Alex Roetter
    Alex Roetter
    • Self - Twitter, Former Senior VP of Engineering
    Tim Kendall
    Tim Kendall
    • Self - Facebook, Former Executive…
    Justin Rosenstein
    Justin Rosenstein
    • Self - Facebook, Former Engineer…
    Randy Fernando
    Randy Fernando
    • Self - NVIDIA, Former Product Manager
    • (as Randima 'Randy' Fernando)
    • …
    Jaron Lanier
    Jaron Lanier
    • Self - Founding Father of Virtual Reality…
    Roger McNamee
    Roger McNamee
    • Self - Facebook, Early Investor…
    Shoshana Zuboff
    Shoshana Zuboff
    • Self - Harvard Business School, Professor Emeritus
    • (as Shoshana Zuboff Ph.D.)
    • …
    Anna Lembke
    Anna Lembke
    • Self - Stanford University, School of Medicine, Medical Director of Addiction Medicine
    • (as Dr. Anna Lembke)
    James Fetter
    James Fetter
    • Self - Anna's Son
    • (as James Lembke)
    Mary Fetter
    Mary Fetter
    • Self - Anna's Daughter
    • (as Mary Lembke)
    • Director
      • Jeff Orlowski-Yang
    • Writers
      • Vickie Curtis
      • Davis Coombe
      • Jeff Orlowski-Yang
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews640

    7.692K
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    Featured reviews

    9mickycarbine-252-94514

    As disturbing as it is accurate.

    After watching this (ironically after seeing it plastered all over twitter) I felt abit violated and felt like a break in social media was well overdue. I did just that but after 24 hours 'THEY' turned the dials just like how they explained they do for periods of non use by the user and just like that I was back in the game. The most disturbing bit for me was the phrase "there are only 2 industries that refer to their customers as users, the illegal drugs trade and tech companies" and I thought then that if you think about it, they both create addicts then profit from the addiction. A very clever and thought provoking film.
    9natsthename

    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.
    6bernierdan

    Good content but lousy dramatizations

    A documentary should be just that. This doc lost credit with the ridiculous acting scenes. They cheapened the message. Please take note future documentarians! No more stupid dramatizations in documentaries!
    8kosmasp

    Is the dilemma social?

    There are a lot of things, that social media can be considered to be positive. But they also enhance things that are not so good for us. A lot of things said here, should be common knowledge, still hearing them or seeing them being visualized (there are sections that are fiction or rather show a stylized version of what is happening behind the scenes) is a different beast.

    Then there is also the missinformation. Will those who are most prone to be victims of these understand or rather change their behavior based on this? I would believe that they won't. They kind of can't in a way. When you are in a vicious cycle, how are you supposed to escape from the missinformation you are getting? Impossible would be the most accurate answer. Still this is spotlighting both sides and gives us an insight on how differences come about and are created ... it does not really offer solutions, though a lot of suggestions. Especially during the end credits, some advice to parents with children and how to use social media or how to educate them.
    9Clairet-605-360807

    Well worth the watch!

    Enlightening, thought-provoking, disturbing and ultimately, a call to action, The Social Dilemma (and the group behind it), will, hopefully, prove to be a turning point in our interaction with technology... and technology's interaction with us.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jeff Orlowski-Yang was a heavy Facebook user before making the film. He's not now.
    • Quotes

      Self - Facebook, Former Operations Manager: We've created a system that biases towards false information. Not because we want to, but because false information makes the companies more money than the truth. The truth is boring.

    • Crazy credits
      "Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse." - Sophocles
    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in De vooravond: Episode #1.17 (2020)

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    FAQ16

    • How long is The Social Dilemma?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 9, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Netflix
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El dilema de las redes sociales
    • Production companies
      • Exposure Labs
      • Argent Pictures
      • The Space Program
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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