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Are you anticipating a less than harmonious
Thanksgiving with the
family this year and want to know
why? If you think it’s because people
are divided or don’t talk to each
other — well, you may not be far from the
truth. Here’s a movie for the whole family to
watch — if they can put down their phones!
The Social Dilemma is a documentary released a
few months ago on Netflix. It is an eye-opening
exploration of social media although
many of us have been on these platforms for
some time.
The irst thing you’ll learn from this movie
is that social media is much more insidious
than we may have thought — that’s the way it’s
set up. This ilm is loaded with information
and experts from the main platforms. You may
think that your personal info is being sold, but
it is you who is being sold. You’re clicking on
things, liking things, but then you will start to
be only fed things that you like — no critical
thinking necessary.
Do you ever go on Instagram and think to
The Movie Column
By guest columnist Mary L. Sims, JD
yourself, “Hey, it’s like they’re in my mind!”
Well, they are. They’re not trying to change
your behavior completely — just your buying
habits. So instead of normally buying something
out of need, you’re buying because of
your wants.
The ilm also follows one family’s journey
regarding social media. There’s good reason
for concern because if you’re just getting your
“facts” from social media, you’re being misled.
This family’s journey, and speciically the two
teenagers who are depicted, makes the ilm
much more relatable and personal.
It’s important to be aware of the effect
social media is having on your family, especially
the younger people who can’t seem to
separate themselves from it. This should be
studied and monitored more because it is
not like TV or radio. This is something that
follows you and stays with you all day and
night. It’s not healthy to have that constant
source feeding into your fears and wants all
the time — and it is addictive. Hospital and
suicide rates are up, and it is often a challenge
to engage younger people sometimes. As the
ilm says, the term “user” is only used for drug
users and social media users.
So, after Thanksgiving dinner, gather the
family together to watch The Social Dilemma.
Learn a little more about how social media
is not all it appears to be. Then, shut off the
TV, put the phones and tablets away and shut
down the computers. Talk to each other, listen
and be thankful… for family.
cold spring brewery is open!
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Growlers
Available!
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&
Sun 12-6pm
Beer Service in
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November 26, 2020 EXIT ZERO Page 29