So you watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix. Did it leave you feeling cheap? Used? Manipulated? Helpless? Well I’m here to tell you, you’re not alone. This film shed light on the dangers of too much screen time, but it also let us know we still have some power in fighting against these corporations and the algorithm.
If you haven’t seen the film by now it’s all good, as I’ll recap the major points here, but if you don’t keep up with the dealings of your favorite social media apps, you probably should. Prepare to be mortified.
Helpful Vocabulary
- Platform
- Technologies that enable a company to identify and collect all of its interactions with customers/users as well as the social media insights, chatter and engagement of those customers with the company (in addition to non-customers who read blogs, chat in discussion boards, and use search engines, etc.).
- Algorithm
- An algorithm is a mathematical set of rules specifying how a group of data behaves. In social media, algorithms help maintain order, and assists in ranking search results and advertisements.
- Content
- The information and experiences that are directed toward an end-user or audience. Content is “something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing or any of various arts”. Content can be delivered via many different media including the Internet, cinema, television, radio, smartphones, audio CDs, books, e-books, magazines, and live events, such as speeches, conferences, and stage performances.
- Advertisers
- a person or company that advertises a product, service, or event.
Key Takeaways
- Platforms like Google, Facebook, and Pinterest are free because they’re paid for by advertisers.
- Advertisers pay these platforms because the platforms have valuable information about us, its users; advertisers mainly care about our behavioral data.
- These platforms use algorithms to place ads and content on our timelines and search engines. It tracks what we do and uses that data to make predictions about our future behaviors with extreme efficiency.
- The algorithms learn from our behavior and will continue to evolve to maintain certain behavioral outcomes. It shows us content that it predicts will keeps up there longer, even if the content is harmful or inaccurate. This is all to give us more time to be exposed to ads.
- Studies have shown there are tons of negative psychological side effects linked to social media usage, but tech companies are doing nothing to stop them because those same toxic behaviors make them money.
- The lack of diversity in their creation teams, coupled with little to no governmental or public oversight of these companies birthed a technology that has taken over the world.
- The bottom line: PEOPLE are allowing an algorithm to divide us into chaos because it’s profitable!
The 5 C’s to Fight the Algorithm
So how can you stop the big bad tech companies from stealing your time and manipulating your habits? Here are 5 steps that you can take right now to fight the algorithm and reclaim your time.
1. Check your screen time
We’ve all lost 5mins here, or 15mins there, mindlessly scrolling on our fav social media or news apps but do you know how much time you actually spend on your device? Take a look at the data. You can’t know how deep in the rabbit hole you are if you don’t. Most smart phones have the ability to track your screen time and will even show you the time you’ve spent on each app down to the minute. Check out this video on YouTube for more.
2. Come clean
Now comes the hard part. The algorithm is series of super computers; our intelligence and willpower alone are likely not going to be enough to stop its sirens call. You’ve gotta be real with yourself about your screen time, own your addiction, and create some screen time goals. Consider how much time you’d like to spend on your device(s) and prepare for the withdrawal. And if you feel like your habits are beyond your control, seek professional help. But also, get excited about all the time you’re going to reclaim!
3. Commit to downtime
Think back to your audit. Were there any patterns in the times when you’re scrolling the most? Have you noticed any patterns to how you feel after you scroll or engage with certain content? What type of content triggers you to have positive emotions? What content triggers negative emotions? Does content ever trigger you to the point of spiraling? Think about the parameters you’d like to set in place to support you in reducing your screen time and the algorithms (aka tech companies) impact on your life.
4. Create some new tasks
Now let’s get creative. In order to fight your social media itch you’ll need to come up with other intentional ways to use your time. Start with a brain dump. Write down some simple tasks – it’s best if they’re tasks you really need to get done but don’t always prioritize. These task should only take you 5-15 minutes. Things like: tidying your room, meditating, cleaning out a section of the fridge, doing a brain dump, folding laundry, calling a family member or friends, etc. You’ll distract yourself from your technology itch while simultaneously reclaiming your time with something you needed to do anyway.
5. Choose your reward
For some, hard work is its own reward. For the rest of us, incentives make the world go round; so here comes the fun part. Before you start your on your journey to beat the algorithm choose a reward for when you reach your goal(s). Start small, and as you track your progress as you go. Then you’ll earn the predetermined rewards you’ve set for each milestone. For some ideas, check out The Millennial’s 30 Before 30 Bucket List.
So now what?
Paying attention to your habits and fighting the algorithm for your mental health is great start. But we also need to make sure we’re fighting the social fight in the policy as well. The overarching message of The Social Dilemma is the fact that these companies continue to grow and manipulate us with no oversight.
Folks like Tristan Harris are helping to shed light on the situation but we’ve all got to wake up to the fact that corporations don’t have our individual best interest at heart.
Visit https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/take-action/ for more information about how to fight back and join the cause.
Got your own thoughts about The Social Dilemma? Share them in the comments below!
xoxo,
Taryn Allyssa