Cómo nos manipulan en las redes sociales | Santiago Bilinkis | TEDxRiodelaPlata

Summary

This script explores the manipulative power of technology, particularly social media and screens, on our daily lives. It discusses how tech companies exploit our vulnerabilities to keep us engaged and consuming content, leading to negative impacts such as addiction, loneliness, and self-esteem issues. The speaker urges us to understand these mechanisms to take control of our lives and use technology to create and share experiences, rather than being consumed by it.

Takeaways

• 📱 The script discusses the addictive nature of technology, particularly smartphones, which are used as a tool to manipulate our thoughts and actions.
• 👀 The Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford University is highlighted as a place where researchers work on using digital platforms to influence user behavior.
• 📊 The speaker emphasizes that technology companies are in a race to capture our attention, competing against each other to keep us engaged on their platforms for as long as possible.
• 🚫 The script mentions that these companies exploit our vulnerabilities, such as the need for social acceptance and validation, to keep us hooked on their services.
• 👶 It points out that even young children and babies are not immune to this manipulation, with platforms designed to capture their attention from a very early age.
• 💔 The speaker highlights the negative impact of social media on self-esteem, as it often leads to unrealistic comparisons and dissatisfaction with one's own life.
• 🔒 The script warns that we are often unaware of the contracts we sign with these companies, giving them access to our personal data and behavior without fully understanding the implications.
• 🛑 The former president of Facebook and the founder of Netflix are cited as examples of industry insiders who have expressed regret or admitted to exploiting user vulnerabilities for profit.
• 🤔 The importance of questioning the business models of free services is underscored, as there is always a cost, whether it be our time, attention, or personal information.
• 🛡️ The script concludes with a call to action, urging us to understand how these manipulative mechanisms work so we can protect ourselves and take control of our digital lives.
• 🌐 It suggests that we should use technology as a tool to enhance our lives, focusing on creating and sharing experiences rather than passively consuming content.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised by the speaker about our interaction with technology?

The speaker is concerned about the addictive nature of technology and how it manipulates our thoughts and actions, often leading to neglect of real-life interactions and potential negative impacts on mental health.

What is the Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford University?

The Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford University is a research center where brilliant researchers work to understand how to use websites and mobile apps to manipulate what we think and do, taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of the mind.

How often do we typically unlock our cell phones in a day according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, we unlock our cell phones about 150 times a day, which averages to once every 6 minutes during our waking hours.

What is the 'attention hack' as described in the script?

The 'attention hack' refers to the strategies used by companies to capture and retain users' attention on their platforms. This includes the use of visual and sound notifications and other distractions to keep users engaged and increase the time spent on their platforms.

Why do companies like Facebook and Netflix use various tricks to distract users?

Companies like Facebook and Netflix use tricks to distract users because their business model relies on selling user attention to advertisers. Every second a user spends on their platform is a second that can be monetized.

What does the speaker suggest is the reason behind the increasing use of photos and videos in social media?

The speaker suggests that the increasing use of photos and videos in social media gives an overblown importance to aesthetics and physique, which can lead to a distorted self-image and comparison with others' highlighted moments.

How does the speaker describe the impact of social media on self-esteem and social acceptance?

The speaker describes that social media impacts self-esteem by promoting a fascination with the lives of others and an obsession with our own image. Likes and the number of followers have become a quantifiable currency for social acceptance.

What are some of the negative consequences of early screen exposure for children as mentioned in the script?

The script mentions that early screen exposure for children can lead to negative consequences in areas such as language acquisition, attention span, and socio-emotional development.

Why does the speaker argue that the current situation with technology is different from past concerns about new media?

The speaker argues that the current situation is different because the devices we carry, such as smartphones, are not just one device but a combination of many, including a phone, camera, TV, and more. They are with us at all times and offer an unlimited flow of content, which can significantly impact our lives.

What solution does the speaker propose to combat the manipulative effects of technology?

The speaker proposes that instead of completely abandoning technology, we should understand how these manipulative mechanisms work to defend ourselves. We should also aim to use technology to create and live shared experiences rather than just consume content.

How does the speaker suggest we can take control of our lives amidst the influence of technology?

The speaker suggests that by understanding the business models behind the apps and platforms we use, we can make more informed decisions about our engagement with technology. The goal is to put technology at the service of the life we want to live, not the life that others want us to live.