The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you (1) to think about how social media platforms have impacted people and society and (2) to consider the effects of both intended and unintended consequences and ramifications of digital technology and social media business models in the future. After you watch the full movie, answer the 10 multiple choice questions and 5 essay questions based on knowledge you gained from the movie (10 multiple choice questions: 2.5 points each; 5 essay questions: 5 points each).
1. According to Roger McNamee, the tech industry in Silicon Valley made products such as hardware and software and sold them to customers in the first 50 years of business. However, in the last 10 years the largest companies have been more interested in the business of _______.
a. subscriptions
b. selling their users
c. software “hacking”
d. data mining
2. According to Aza Raskin, since advertisers pay for social media platforms instead of the people who use social media, advertisers are the customers and social media users are _______.
a. freeloaders
b. not making their own decisions
c. being influenced by advertisers
d. the thing that is being sold
3. Tristan Harris emphasizes that “if you’re not paying for the product, then ___________.”
a. you are the product
b. you won’t get the product
c. the product does not exist
d. somebody else will pay for that product
4. The “business model” of companies like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube is:
a. to manipulate consumers into buying things.
b. to watch the gradual change in user behavior.
c. to keep people engaged on the screen.
d. to connect advertisers with copious amounts of user data.
5. Jaron Lanier states, “It’s the gradual, slight, imperceptible change in your own _______________ that is the product.”
a. thoughts and emotions
b. feelings and behavior
c. interests and ideas
d. behavior and perception
6. According to Aza Raskin, what does Facebook do with the data it collects?
a. Looks for patterns in consumer behavior
b. Builds models that predict users’ actions
c. Sells it to the highest bidder
d. Shares it with the government
7. According to Tristan Harris, if something is a tool it genuinely is just sitting there waiting patiently. If something is not a tool it ___________________________.
a. demands things from you, seduces you, and manipulates you
b. performs actions on its own
c. looks for ways to improve itself
d. serves no purpose
8. Cathy O’Neil states that algorithms are ________ embedded in code.
a. facts
b. feelings
c. opinions
d. thoughts
9. When performing a Google search and typing “Climate change is …” in the search bar, users will see:
a. the auto-complete results set for their location.
b. the auto-complete set results for what Google knows about their interests.
c. the auto-complete results that are the same no matter where they live.
d. the auto-complete set results for their location and what Google knows about their interests.
10. According to an MIT study, ____________.
a. fake news on Twitter spreads two times faster than true news.
b. fake news on Twitter spreads six times faster than true news.
c. fake news on Twitter spreads ten times faster than true news.
d. fake news on Twitter spreads twenty times faster than true news.
Essay Questions: Please answer the following 5 questions by providing detailed explanations with references to the movie content. You should provide a minimum of FIVE sentences for each question.
1. What is the possible existential threat involved with social media? Explain your answer. In your explanation include references to the movie content in terms of agree or disagree.
2. Did the documentary “The Social Dilemma” change your perspective on social media’s role in society? Explain your answer. Give specific references to the movie content in terms of agree or disagree.
3. How has social media (positively or negatively) impacted your personal life or the life of someone you know well? Consider if the movie content confirmed or disagreed with your ideas.
4. In your opinion, what is social media’s role in spreading information or disinformation about topics of general interest? Whose responsibility is it to confirm accuracy or inaccuracy of social media content?
5. In your opinion, what are the positives and negatives of social media and how can they affect your physical and mental health?
The link to the movie : https://vimeo.com/462049229