If your older and want to see what youngster are so intrigued about with their phones then watch this film. It's a view from the Instagram side of social media. The highs can be amazing the lows can be devasting. An in site of a changing world due to technology. Good or Bad it's here.
11 Reviews
Tightly woven documentary. Insightful and worth watching.
tyboulder4 May 2019
This is a well executed look into a few Instagram user's past (and still evolving) relationship with Instagram. It provides insight into many of the trends, motivations and pitfalls associated with what is actually a very complex topic-people's social lives, self-edited and put on display for the world to see in near real-time.
It would've been much easier for the director to have made a cynical, Dateline-styled expose that piggybacks off all the easy, negative stereotypes and horror stories that people love to see tried in the (absurdly hypocritical) "court of public opinion." But instead, this documentary works hard at trying to tell full stories, with both the good and the bad.
If you're a parent you'll come away from this better educated than you started out, and in a far more realistic way than if this were a cheap hit piece. I think the same can be said for the generation of kids they're profiling. It seems to build a legitimate consensus of ideas and opinions. What it did leave out are users above the age of 21 and the business side of Instagram (both as a company and its advertisers). The idea of Instagram users becoming "sponsored" or trying to make money off their fame is covered, but not from the point of view of businesses (which would be another film anyway).
What's really interesting to me are the low scores for this film. (As of early May 2019.) I suspect the blonde (Kaylyn) who *seems* to be living a beautiful, happy-go-lucky life provokes some backlash in the form of jealousy, a topic that's covered in the film. But, I think she was a great casting choice, because she seems like a genuinely decent, open and honest person. Also, "females over 45" (i.e., moms and grandmothers) seem to show a strong dislike for this film, unfortunately mistaking their 1 star rating of the movie as a vote against Instagram.
(Also, had this come across as a planted campaign for Instagram-the way many celebrities and other corporations are using documentaries right now-I would've shut it off.)
It would've been much easier for the director to have made a cynical, Dateline-styled expose that piggybacks off all the easy, negative stereotypes and horror stories that people love to see tried in the (absurdly hypocritical) "court of public opinion." But instead, this documentary works hard at trying to tell full stories, with both the good and the bad.
If you're a parent you'll come away from this better educated than you started out, and in a far more realistic way than if this were a cheap hit piece. I think the same can be said for the generation of kids they're profiling. It seems to build a legitimate consensus of ideas and opinions. What it did leave out are users above the age of 21 and the business side of Instagram (both as a company and its advertisers). The idea of Instagram users becoming "sponsored" or trying to make money off their fame is covered, but not from the point of view of businesses (which would be another film anyway).
What's really interesting to me are the low scores for this film. (As of early May 2019.) I suspect the blonde (Kaylyn) who *seems* to be living a beautiful, happy-go-lucky life provokes some backlash in the form of jealousy, a topic that's covered in the film. But, I think she was a great casting choice, because she seems like a genuinely decent, open and honest person. Also, "females over 45" (i.e., moms and grandmothers) seem to show a strong dislike for this film, unfortunately mistaking their 1 star rating of the movie as a vote against Instagram.
(Also, had this come across as a planted campaign for Instagram-the way many celebrities and other corporations are using documentaries right now-I would've shut it off.)
I was like, you know, into it, but like, not really, because, like, it's all like, you know
genious-3541328 March 2019
I was all like 'this is a good, like, idea' and so I was like 'I should watch this' and so, like, I said to my wife, like, let's watch it' and she's all like 'yeah, let's like watch it' and I was all like 'ok, cool-cool' and so like, then we like, started, like, watching it and, like, the subject matter was all like, interesting, but like, there was, like, something about it that like, made me want to like, turn it off because, like, it just, like annoyed me. Like, something was just, like, grating on me but like, I couldn't, like, put my finger on it.
If listening to that doesn't annoy you - but might like... sorry: enjoy this movie. I couldn't get past the instagram star/future homeless girl. Yeah, she's a kid but it's just painful.
Terrible
lindsey-brueggen5 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Very difficult to watch. Even harder to listen to. I think I understand why people "like" photos on Instagram. Their minds can't come up with the correct way to articulate their thoughts and feelings so they default to their comfort word LIKE. Feels like it should be a satire but unfortunately it is not. I still don't understand what the message is supposed to be. Born wealthy and gorgeous? Great! You'll have an amazing life and nothing bad will ever happen, and it will all unfold online. Or, are you a daredevil who takes insanely stupid risks to get a photo? You won't get in trouble with the law ever, and then you'll make tons of money! I think what I am most likely to take away from this is that I am infinitely grateful that social media did not exist when I was in high school. Seriously, I worry about the mental health of children who have grown up online. Here's to hoping it's all a fad that's just taking a bit too long to die out.
Not what I expected
vgonzalezmgl7 April 2019
As a mom of a teen girl I expected this movie to go into detail about the dopamine release and other issues that social media represent to children. What I got from this movie was, if you are pretty and have money and not much to complain then you don't have to worry much about what they say in socia media, bad comments can be erased and exposure is good for business, which is partially true. If you end up making someone mad, you better watch your back. Very little about social media over usage and how it can make you feel more lonely than you would ever think. But nothing was strong enough to make kids aware of the consecuences. I am glad I watched it without her first as I don't think it will give her the right message. The positive? Some good artist are finding a way to show the world from a different view.
People are People
dallasryan2 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A great look at our social commentary for the time. People will always be people, bad people, good people, no matter what the time or technology is, history repeats itself with the people. Humza brings out beauty and inspiration through the dangers of society. Kaylyn is instagram incarnate, where it will be a lifestyle for her through and through. Same probably for Humza. For Emma, instagram won't be a lifestyle for her.
Emma will hopefully look back in 20 years on the cruelties of people and technology, and shake her head and laugh (understanding at the time it hurt, but in the now, how unimportant they all were) as she's living her dreams out in peace and harmony. In the end, we all want validation from the world, it's human nature. But even if you have 1 million followers, you still may not find the peace you are looking for. Peace comes from within. It's true, it can be hard to find the peace with all the noise in the world, but it can be found in the silence of nature, the beach, helping others (as Emma's mom lovingly touched upon), etc.
To find that peace from within when the going is good or the going is bad is ultimately what we all want. To find the peace within, even when others aren't liking our Instagram pages or when we're not at the beach or in nature.
Emma's going through an age we all went through, when we felt our insecurities the most. Hopefully she knows that black guy who made that comment to her is not worthy of her. Hopefully she knows it's not her, that-that black guy just gets off on making hurtful comments to people, there's many like him. Beauty is to the eye of the beholder. It's subjective. Some may find Emma to be the most attractive woman in the world, and some may find blondes to be, or this or that. It's all subjective. Hopefully she knows that. Hopefully she realizes how beautiful she is.
Emma will hopefully look back in 20 years on the cruelties of people and technology, and shake her head and laugh (understanding at the time it hurt, but in the now, how unimportant they all were) as she's living her dreams out in peace and harmony. In the end, we all want validation from the world, it's human nature. But even if you have 1 million followers, you still may not find the peace you are looking for. Peace comes from within. It's true, it can be hard to find the peace with all the noise in the world, but it can be found in the silence of nature, the beach, helping others (as Emma's mom lovingly touched upon), etc.
To find that peace from within when the going is good or the going is bad is ultimately what we all want. To find the peace within, even when others aren't liking our Instagram pages or when we're not at the beach or in nature.
Emma's going through an age we all went through, when we felt our insecurities the most. Hopefully she knows that black guy who made that comment to her is not worthy of her. Hopefully she knows it's not her, that-that black guy just gets off on making hurtful comments to people, there's many like him. Beauty is to the eye of the beholder. It's subjective. Some may find Emma to be the most attractive woman in the world, and some may find blondes to be, or this or that. It's all subjective. Hopefully she knows that. Hopefully she realizes how beautiful she is.
Social Animals was well-received at its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It is best described as a digital coming of age story that shows the positives and the
JustCuriosity16 March 2018
Social Animals was well-received at its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It is best described as a digital coming of age story that shows the positives and the pitfalls of the social media era. It showcases three teenagers and their experiences with Instagram. It also shows that while there is much that can be achieved positively (particularly in the experience of Humza Deas who uses Instagram as a platform to develop and showcase his amazing photography), butt there are also horrific downsides. The platform magnifies all of the worst pathologies of millennial culture including sexting, horrific cyberbullying, stalking, slut-shaming and so much else. All of the ugliest aspects of the playground are played out writ large on the social media stage. The director has done a thoughtful job of presenting the medium fairly. The film is entertaining, well-edited, and provocative. Frankly, I agree with the director (in his comments at the screening), if I had teenagers I wouldn't let my kids use this type of social media platform.
Reality!
sdelbello-1162015 October 2019
This was awesome
elijahwilliamgreen2 May 2019
As a teenager this film helped me to understand the consequences and benefits of instagram without giving a strong view of its own, the film allows you to think on it and raise a question. Social animals shows the different circumstances and examples of failure and success on social media.
Hoping for more work from this director
Hoping for more work from this director
Change something inside me.
manorathbarot30 December 2018
High School 🏫 Drama and Instagram Issues
vivianla2 May 2020
This film reminds me so much of what I heard in high school. The "unspoken rules of Instagram" and experiences of each teen is good basic information for parents. This film is good to show kids and teens as well to show those who don't know what the world without social media was like and may not have a solid understanding of the dangers.
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