"If you're not paying for the product, you are the product!"
This statement from the Netflix documentary called "The Social Dilemma "is a reality that most of us never think about. We are too invested in product usage and never think about the fact that what if the main purpose of this product is to keep us as invested as possible? Social media for most of us is a blessing in disguise and are go to partner for whenever we are bored. It gives us free entertainment 24/7 but have we ever thought about why and what benefit it gives them? Every social media platform we use now is full of ads. These ads are money minting machines for them. The greater the number of ads they show the more tons of billions of dollars they earn.
In today's world, it is very easy to track each and every move of a person. This private knowledge is a jackpot in terms of effective marketing for any profit making firm. All of you must have noticed that whatever product you discuss with your friends or family suddenly appears on all social media platforms. In theory, this seems like a harmless and beneficial service provided to the customers but the problems start when boundaries are pushed. As soon as you start losing interest in a post a controversial post appears to continue attracting your attention. This is messed up on a whole new level.
This documentary explains in depth how the artificial intelligence (AI) in programming data and algorithms has become soo powerful that it manipulates us into increasing our screen time. The AI is so advanced that with all the snooping around it knows exactly what you want to see and it makes sure to give it to you in the form of millions of ads. There is nothing personal about our lives anymore. Be it pictures or our conversations these social media platforms have access to everything!
Another important statement which shook me was "How much of your life can we get you to give us."
~Mariam Khalid