The Social Dilemma (2020)

7.6PG-1394 minDirector: Jeff Orlowski

2020 American docudrama film by Jeff Orlowski

The Social Dilemma is a 2020 American docudrama film directed by Jeff Orlowski and written by Orlowski, Davis Coombe, and Vickie Curtis. The documentary covers the negative social effects of social media and is interspersed by a dramatized narrative surrounding a family of five who are increasingly affected by problematic social media use.

The Social Dilemma premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, on January 26, 2020, and was released on Netflix on September 9, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised its message and use of interviews with established tech experts but criticized the narrative, reenactments, and lack of nuance in addressing technological problems.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Social Dilemma about?
The Social Dilemma (2020) — Set in the dark underbelly of Silicon Valley, The Social Dilemma fuses investigative documentary with enlightening narrative drama. Expert testimony from tech whistle-blowers exposes our disturbing predicament: the services Big Tech provides-search engines, networks, instant info
Is The Social Dilemma based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Social Dilemma scary?
Content rating: PG-13. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.