Literature and Media Series Entry #8


    “You want to change human thought? Human behaviour?” Raiden exclaimed.

    “Of course. Anything can be quantified nowadays” the AI replied.

    And then Facebook revealed that it was using people's personal data to manipulate their emotions. This being before the third-party-selling controversy.

    The Social Dilemma ends with the critics trying to cobble together some optimism and suggest solutions. The only specific idea spoken is that by former Google consultant Joe Toscano: "We can tax data collection and processing...It gives them a fiscal reason to not acquire every piece of data on the planet." But their focus is mostly on the advertising side of things: depression in young screen-glued lip-pouters who can’t put their phones down thanks to content feeds that have been automatically designed to be addictive specifically for them. The political chasm appears secondary, except for former Facebook executive Tim Kendall who fears civil war in the foreseeable future.

    The call to action in the final minute of the documentary is: “We can demand that these products be used humanely.” But we’ve been demanding for a while. What a damp squib to end on. Who even needs thought police anymore? Think about that. Then doublethink about that, and get back to your catered newsfeed, you prole. Cue outro.





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