Writing Question

Overview

"The Social Dilemma" is a documentary-drama that explores the pervasive influence of social media on our lives. Through interviews with former tech executives and experts, it highlights the ethical dilemmas posed by algorithms designed to capture attention and drive engagement. The film illustrates how these platforms manipulate user behavior, contribute to mental health issues, and polarize society. It also follows a fictional narrative of a teenager grappling with social media's impact on his life, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and change in our digital interactions. Overall, it is a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked technology.

Assignment:

For this assignment, please watch The Social Dilemma.It is also available on Netflix if you already have an account.

Then, write at least three pages (double-spaced, 12-point font, Times New Roman) using APA format. DO NOT USE the question as a header. Below is a basic example of an APA-formatted paper. (Title in the middle of the page, subcategories related to the topic at the margin (bold headers)) APA example: Apa exampleComm App (1).docx

Below are some questions and concepts I would like to discuss throughout your papers. I DO NOT expect every question to be touched on within your essay. However, you should connect about 6-10 questions within this paper. I suggest even using part of the question as your header. (I will explain in class).

Documentary Reflection Questions: Social Media Use DO NOT number, Use header, Headers are 1-5 words only.

1. 1. 1. What did you think of the documentary?
      2. After watching it, how do you feel about your own social media use?
      3. What was the most shocking piece of information you learned?
      4. Has your perspective changed in any way based on the documentary’s content?
      5. Has social media ever affected your self-worth? If so, how? Now that you know how platforms can target individuals using psychological techniques, has that changed your perspective on self-worth?
      6. Have you ever based your self-worth on the number of likes you received?
      7. Have you ever been upset or started a conflict because someone liked another person’s post? How did this affect your relationship?
      8. What was the outcome? Did you communicate a resolution, or did communication break down?
      9. How much time do you spend on your phone daily (hours/minutes)? Which apps do you use the most? Do you think your technology use is healthy or unhealthy? Why?
      10. What strategies do you use to unplug? For example, do you leave your phone in another room, avoid looking at it during meals, or take other breaks from it?
      11. The documentary quoted: "There are only two industries that call their customers 'users': drug dealers and software." What does this quote mean to you? How do you interpret it?
      12. What was the main purpose of the documentary? Do you understand the key messages and concepts it aimed to convey?
      13. Has social media ever affected an interpersonal relationship (e.g., with a grandparent, parent, sibling, or friend)? Have you ever unfriended someone because of it? Was the relationship repaired or permanently affected?
      14. Do you think your attention span is affected by frequent phone use? Has this impacted your relationships? How have you addressed excessive social media usage?
      15. What do you do to maintain relationships outside of social media?
      16. Does social media influence your time spent with friends, family, and loved ones? Do you need to document or post about your outings?