The Social Dilemma (2020) Video Guide and Infographic

- Grades
- Grades 7–11, Middle School, High School
- File type
- Preparation
- Print ready
- Subject
- ELA, Science, Technology, Computer Science
- Topic
- Social Dilemma, social media
- Resource types
- Activities
- Preparation
- Print ready
About this resource
What's inside this resource
The Social Dilemma" is a 2020 docudrama movie directed by Jeff Orlowski and written by Orlowski and Davis Coombe. The movie explores the negative impact of social media on society, particularly on mental health, democracy, and privacy. The movie combines documentary footage with fictionalized scenes to illustrate the inner workings of social media companies and the algorithms they use to manipulate user behavior. It features interviews with former executives and engineers from major tech companies, including Facebook, Google, and Twitter, who discuss the ways in which social media platforms are designed to keep users engaged and addicted. The movie argues that the profit-driven business models of social media companies prioritize the maximization of engagement and user attention over ethical considerations, such as privacy and mental health. It also raises concerns about the impact of social media on democracy and political polarization, as well as the role of social media in spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories.
This product comes with 23-questions that will help your students get the most out of this powerful film. This product comes in PDF and Google Doc form. This product also includes an infographic detailing the users and purpose of each of the world's largest social media sites. Ready to use - no prep!
In the classroom
Teaching tips & learning objectives
Learning objectives
- Summarize the film's claims about how social media platforms affect users
- Compare the audiences and purposes of major social media platforms
Teaching tips
- The film discusses suicide statistics, election manipulation and addiction, so previewing it against school guidelines is worthwhile.
- The film itself is not included; arrange a way to show it before the lesson.
Skills covered
- Note-taking — answering questions while following timestamped film segments
- Media analysis — comparing platforms using the infographic
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Resource details
Concepts & topics
Core concepts
- Media literacy
- Social media
- Technology ethics
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