15 Insightful Documentaries About Social Media
In today's world, social media has become such an integral part of our lives that it's hard to imagine a day without scrolling through our feeds.
However, the impact of social media on our society is something we often overlook. From issues of privacy, fake news, and manipulation to cyberbullying and addiction, social media has its own set of challenges that need to be addressed. If you're curious about the impact of social media, here are some of the best documentaries that you should definitely watch.
1. The Social Dilemma (2020)
This is a docudrama that explores the dangers of social media and how it influences society. It highlights how social media companies use algorithms and artificial intelligence to keep users hooked on their platforms. The documentary also covers topics such as online political polarization and the spread of conspiracy theories.
2. Craigslist Joe (2012)
This documentary follows the journey of Joe Garner, who decides to survive for a month on the deserted roads of America by relying solely on the generosity of the people he meets through Craigslist. The documentary shows how technology and social media can be used to form bonds between strangers and build communities.
👉 Watch Craigslist Joe on Amazon Prime
👉 Buy Craigslist Joe as DVD on Amazon
3. The Great Hack (2019)
This 2019 documentary, directed by Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer, analyzes the Cambridge Analytica scandal involving Facebook. It details the extent of the data manipulation that allowed Cambridge Analytica to run targeted online campaigns aimed at influencing voter opinion during the Brexit vote and the 2016 US presidential election.
The Great Hack highlights the critical role social media platforms now play in political campaigns and how information is used to influence public opinion on a global scale.
The Great Hack on Factual America
4. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
This 2019 true-crime Netflix documentary details the story of a man who posted videos of himself killing cats on social media. The documentary follows amateur investigators who used social media to track the killer down, eventually leading to his arrest.
The documentary highlights some of the darker corners and dangerous aspects of social media.
Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer on IMDb
5. Murder on the Social Network (2011)
This 2011 documentary, explores the shocking reality of how social media can enable murder and other crimes. The documentary showcases various cases where perpetrators used social media to lure in victims and carry out heinous crimes.
It highlights the importance of online safety and raises important questions about the ethics and risks involved in the way we use social media.
Murder on the Social Network on IMDb
6. The Creepy Line (2018)
This documentary film exposes the deceptive practices of tech companies and how they exploit users' personal data. The documentary highlights how we blindly agree to the terms and conditions of social media without realizing the extent of our data being sold to third-party companies.
👉 Watch The Creepy Line on Amazon Prime
👉 Buy The Creepy Line as DVD on Amazon
7. Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013)
This 2013 documentary sheds light on the fine print of social media platforms' terms and conditions, which most people agree to without fully realizing what they're signing up for.
The film explores how social media companies mine users' data, invade their privacy, and make profits from their personal information. The film also highlights the implications of these practices for personal autonomy, free speech, and democracy.
👉 Watch Terms and Conditions May Apply on Amazon Prime
👉 Buy Terms and Conditions May Apply as DVD on Amazon
8. Social Animals (2018)
This 2018 documentary explores the lives of American teenagers who have grown up in the age of social media. The film follows three high school students as they navigate their social lives both online and offline, dealing with issues such as cyberbullying, self-image, and authenticity.
The film raises important questions about how social media shapes young people's identities and behaviors, as well as the long-term consequences of pervasive social media use.
👉 Watch Social Animals on Amazon Prime
👉 Buy Social Animals as DVD on Amazon
9. Fake Famous (2021)
This 2021 documentary follows three ordinary people who aspire to become social media influencers. The film exposes the manipulative and deceptive practices that are often used to create and maintain a following on platforms like Instagram.
Through their attempts to gain fame and fortune, the subjects of the film inadvertently reveal the artifice and superficiality of influencer culture, highlighting the tensions between authenticity and artifice in social media.
👉 Watch Fake Famous on Amazon Prime
10. Catfish (2010)
This 2010 documentary, which spawned a popular TV show, explores the phenomenon of online catfishing, in which people use fake identities to deceive others on social media.
Through the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman he meets online, the film shows how social media can be used to manipulate and exploit vulnerable individuals. The film also reveals the impact of social media on our relationships and the difficulty of distinguishing truth from fiction online.
👉 Watch Catfish on Amazon Prime
👉 Buy Catfish as DVD on Amazon
11. The Cleaners (2018)
This 2018 documentary examines the murky world of content moderation on social media platforms. The film follows a group of Filipino workers who are responsible for screening and deleting disturbing and objectionable content from platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
The film raises important questions about the ethics and accountability of social media companies, as well as the human cost of our reliance on digital technologies.
👉 Watch The Cleaners on Amazon Prime DE
👉 Buy The Cleaners as DVD on Amazon
12. Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened (2019)
Directed by Chris Smith, this 2019 documentary retells the chaos and deception behind the ill-fated Fyre Festival. The high-profile event was marketed and heavily promoted on social media, only to fall apart into a disastrous situation for festival-goers.
The documentary uncovers the scale of fraud committed through social media marketing and how it resulted in a global scandal.
Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened on Factual America
13. Audrie & Daisy (2016)
Social media has been both a boon and bane for victims of sexual assault cases who have found justice through the platform. Directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, this film explores the struggle of two teenage girls who were raped by their peers and how social media only amplified their suffering.
The documentary highlights the role of social media in the ongoing conversation on rape culture in today's society.
14. Inside Facebook: Secrets of the Social Network (2018)
Aired on the UK’s Channel 4 in 2018, this documentary gives audiences a window into the tech giant Facebook's inner workings.
Film maker, James Jacoby, interviewed former Facebook employees to uncover the social network's surveillance practices and how it manipulates user data for profitability.
Inside Facebook: Secrets of the Social Network on IMDb
15. The Hart Family Tragedy (2020)
A Thread of Deceit: The Hart Family Tragedy follows Jennifer and Sarah Hart and their fabricated lives, that ultimately ended in tragedy. The Hart Family had sculpted their perfect image on social media, however the reality was the complete opposite of what they portrayed.
After trying to conceal a life of mental illness and horrific abuse, the Hart's decided to drive themselves and their six adopted children, off a Californian cliff to their untimely deaths. Documentary Producer Rachel Morgan and Executive Producer Chuck Lewis explore society's addiction to social media and the damaging effect it is having on mental health.
The Hart Family Tragedy on Factual America
👉 Watch The Hart Family Tragedy on Amazon Prime
Conclusion
Social media has become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, and its impact on society is something that cannot be ignored. These documentaries offer a glimpse into the various challenges and issues that arise from the use of social media.
From privacy concerns to the dangers of online manipulation, these documentaries will help you understand the dangers and broaden your perspective. If you're someone who is conscious of the impact of social media, then these social media documentaries should definitely be on your must-watch list.
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