Urgent! The Social Dilemma impacting us & all children. You NEED to know this - 2 new documentaries, resources & solutions
In the past week a couple of very important documentaries have been released which (despite being uncomfortable viewing at times) dovetail & complement each other. They are of the Zeitgeist & present serious issues which impact every one of us & are essential for us all to be aware of.
The intention of this post is firstly to help raise awareness of the urgent & important issues flagged in these interconnected films, drawing attention to the real challenges faced in today's digital age of social media.
Secondly to pull together & share some resources which can support individuals, families & children navigating the tightrope.
Thirdly to advance the imperative discussions that need to be brought to the forefront both at home & society at large, to help pave the way for a healthier, happier & more sustainable future for us all.
Finally to provide you with some practical, easy to follow Facebook tips which can help protect you whilst also enabling a better user experience based on what is important for YOU.
Please feel free to share the post & also any useful resources. It's all about collaboration, idea sharing & paying goodness forward.
Note: The resources which support the documentaries are lower down the post after the links to the films & trailers, followed by some practical Facebook User Tips.
DOCUMENTARY 1: The Social Dilemma
Watch this trailer to one of the most important documentaries of our age...
From the creators of Chasing Ice and Chasing Coral, The Social Dilemma blends documentary investigation and narrative drama to disrupt the disrupters, unveiling the hidden machinations behind everyone’s favorite social media and search platforms.
It is already being tipped for awards for it's powerful expose by Silicon Valley industry insiders who spill the beans on what's really going on & how WE are being played, controlled, shaped & manipulated.
The feature is available now on Netflix. You can also visit https://www.thesocialdilemma.com for resources, guidelines & updates including an open Q&A with the director & featured experts.
The last 10 minutes of the documentary presents potential solutions to the issues raised. As per the website, awareness will help more people debate & discuss this topic which impacts ALL of us enabling us (as they say) "Help change how technology is designed, regulated & used". In a time when technology has become our lifeline, it is more important than ever that we examine the role it plays in our lives and realign it with the interests of people, not profits.
Conscious & ethical leadership is more imperative than ever.
DOCUMENTARY 2: Childhood 2.0 - The Living Experiment
The second important (& related) Documentary relating to the impact of Social Media on children growing up is Childhood 2.0 - The Living Experiment (trailer & full documentary for free below).
Childhood 2.0 is required viewing for anyone who wants to better understand the world children are navigating as they grow up in the digital age. Featuring actual parents and kids as well as industry-leading experts in child safety and development, this documentary dives into the real-life issues facing kids today — including cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more.
"For the first time in history, mental illness and suicide have become one of the greatest threats to school-aged children. Many parents still view dangers as primarily physical and external, but they’re missing the real danger: kids spending more time online and less time engaging in real life, free play, and autonomy.
What are the effects on the next generation's mental, physical, and spiritual health?
Childhood was more or less unchanged for millennia, but this is CHILDHOOD 2.0.
For more resources and to download a community discussion guide and share with your community, please visit: https://www.childhood2movie.com
From the creators of Childhood 2.0, a demonstration of social media dangers when a mother poses as an 11 year old girl.
Message from the creators of Childhood 2.0
"We wanted to thank you for taking 90 minutes out of your day to watch Childhood 2.0. Your support means the world to us, and we hope that you gained a new perspective into the issues kids face today — things our generation couldn’t have foreseen or even imagined.
If you have friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers (anyone raising children in the digital age!) that could benefit from watching our film, let them know about it. As you know, it’s free to watch on our website, and it’s also available both on YouTube and Facebook. Several experts and organizations are featured in Childhood 2.0, and we wanted to provide you with links to their websites as well as a few of their helpful parenting resources.
RESOURCES: There are a number of useful resources you can access (as in the screenshot below) via https://www.childhood2movie.com/
This handbook is a great starting point for learning more about parenting in the digital age, but there’s also a whole world of information, products, services, and blogs out there — several of which are featured in Childhood 2.0 — that can help your family even more as you work to help keep them safe online and in real life. Here are just a few of our suggested solutions that will provide you with peace of mind.
Technology
Bark - https://www.bark.us Bark is an industry leading award winning app that monitors kids’ texts, emails, and social media for digital dangers and alerts parents to potential issues like cyberbullying, depression, online predators, and more. Bark also provides screen time and filtering controls.
Bark explainer video -
Google FamilyLink - https://families.google.com/familylink/ For families with Android devices, Google FamilyLink is a free service that lets you set digital ground rules to help guide your kids as they learn, play, and explore online.
Apple Screen Time - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982 Apple families can use this free service to set screen time limits on their children’s devices, receive weekly reports, and more.
Screen Time lets you know how much time you and your kids spend on apps, websites, and more. This way, you can make more informed decisions about how you use your devices, and set limits if you'd like to. Read on to learn how to turn on Screen Time, view your report and set limits, andmanage a child's device.
Quick tip - How to Turn on & Edit Screen Time
Go to Settings > Screen Time.
Tap Turn On Screen Time.
Tap Continue.
Select This is My [device] or This is My Child's [device].
You can now get a report about how you use your device, apps, and websites, any time you want.
If it's your child's device, you can set up Screen Time and create settings right on their device or you canuse Family Sharing to configure your child’s device from your own device. After you set up your child’s device, you can also use Family Sharing to view reports and adjust settings right from your own device.
With Screen Time you can also create a dedicated passcode to secure settings, so only you can extend time or make changes. Make sure to choose a passcode that's different from the passcode you use to unlock your device. To change or turn off the passcode on your child's device, go to Settings > Screen Time, and tap [your child's name]. Then tap Change Screen Time Passcode or Turn Off Screen Time Passcode, and authenticate the change with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
Online resources
Protect Young Eyes - https://protectyoungeyes.com/ Protect Young Eyes is a thought-leading website that keeps parents in the know about the latest devices, technology, and more with reviews, blog posts, and presentations.
NetSmartz (by NCMEC) - https://www.missingkids.org/netsmartz/home This online safety education program provides age- appropriate videos and activities for children to learn about online risks and how to avoid them.
Common Sense Media - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Common Sense Media provides in-depth reviews of movies, TV shows, books, video games and more so families can determine the age-appropriateness of what their kids consume.
This Facebook group of more than 80,000 members provides a much-needed space for parents to support each other and get the scoop on cool apps, the latest trends, and all things tech-related.
Experts featured include: Tristan Harris - Google, Former Design Ethicist / Center for Humane Society, Co-Founder Jeff Seibert - Twitter, Former Executive / Serial Tech Entrepreneur Bailey Richardson - Instagram, Early Team Joe Toscano- Google, Former Experience Design Consultant / Author - Automating Humanity Sandy Parakilas - Facebook, Former Operations Manager / Uber, Former Product Manager Guillaume Chaslot- YouTube, Former Engineer / IntuitiveAI, CEO / AlgoTransparency, Founder Aza Raskin- Firefox & Mozilla Labs, Former Employee / Center for Humane Technology, Co-Founder / Inventor, Infinite Scroll Alex Roetter - Twitter, Former Senior VP of Engineering Tim Kendall - Facebook, Former Executive / Pinterest, Former President / Moment, CEO Justin Rosenstein - Facebook, Former Engineer / Google, Former Engineer / Asana, Co-Founder Randy Fernando - NVIDIA, Former Product Manager / Mindful Schools, Former Executive Director / Center for Humane Society, Co-Founder (as Randima 'Randy' Fernando)
The Center for Humane Technology is dedicated to creating the conditions for radically reimagined 21st century digital infrastructure that supports our well-being, relationships, democracy, and shared information environment.
Visit https://www.humanetech.com/rebuild to see how your voice can help create this new reality, including podcasts, mini courses, resources, community & more.
The Truth Manifesto - book by Damian Bradfield (founder of WeTransfer)
DOCUMENTARY 3: The Creepy Line
The Creepy Line reveals the stunning degree to which society is manipulated by Google and Facebook and blows the lid off the remarkably subtle – hence powerful – manner in which they do it.
Offering first-hand accounts, scientific experiments and detailed analysis, the film examines what is at risk when these tech titans have free reign to utilize the public’s most private and personal data. See more Full Movies and Documentaries on Janson Media - https://www.thecreepyline.com/
Data has surpassed oil as the world’s most valuable asset. It’s being weaponized to wage cultural and political warfare. People everywhere are in a battle for control of our most intimate personal details.
From award-winning filmmakers Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, THE GREAT HACK uncovers the dark world of data exploitation with astounding access to the personal journeys of key players on different sides of the explosive Cambridge Analytica/Facebook data scandal.
Academy-Award nominees Amer and Noujaim (The Square, Control Room, Startup.com) continue their tradition of exploring the seismic ripples of social media with this riveting, complex film.
THE GREAT HACK forces us to question the origin of the information we consume daily. What do we give up when we tap that phone or keyboard and share ourselves in the digital age?
------------------------ FACEBOOK TIPS Facebook Tutorial Tips for a safer & better experience
1. How to use Facebook See First
This is essential. If you're not currently using Facebook's See First option then your Facebook experience is about to instantly improve as you proactively decide which people & page's posts will be prioritised in your feed. Why? Because not all friends, groups & pages are created equal. Choose the ones which are most important for YOU (& personal tip - which empower you / bring out the best in you).
2. How to stop Facebook tracking you in the background Most people don't know this. Since the February 1st 2020 Settings Update, Facebook has been tracking your activity whilst you're off Facebook. Of course, you weren’t told about this - it was back-doored.
More so than ever we are in a time when the solution to much lies in truth, openess & transparency in order for us to be able to make up our own informed minds!
So firstly, please be informed & secondly, if you’d like to switch off this background tracking, this video will show you how, step by step (on either mobile or desktop).
(Alternatively the steps are written out below).
How to disable background 'off Facebook tracking'..... On Mobile: 1. From Home, press the three lines 2. Go to Settings & Privacy (down near bottom) 3. Click Settings 4. Click ‘Off-Facebook Activity’ 4.1 You may want to click CLEAR HISTORY 5. Click the three dots in top right 6. Click ‘Manage Future Activity’ x 2 7. Switch off ‘Future off-Facebook Activity’ 8. Press ‘Turn off’
On Desktop: 1. Go to top right corner drop down arrow 2. Click ‘Settings’ 3. Click ‘Your Facebook Info’ 4. Click ‘Off-Facebook Activity’ 5. Download your info - (recommended as a back up & reference) 6. Click ‘Manage Your Off-Facebook Activity’ (It may ask for your Facebook password. Enter it) 7. Toggle the switch on ‘Future Off-Facebook Activity’ 8. Click ‘Turn Off’
Some other options to help get away from trackers:
2.1.Use Mozilla Firefox as your browser. It can import all your bookmarks and passwords from Google Chrome and it has inbuilt anti-tracking plugins so Facebook can't follow you all over the internet. (BTW, Facebook has a profile for almost every internet user, whether they have an account or not, because it has "Like" buttons all over the place that follow your every move). Firefox puts each Facebook tab in it's own unique ring fence so you are safe.
2.2.Install Adblock Plus on your web browser. It works on all of them but you're on Firefox now right so get it for that. This software will stop you seeing any ads on Facebook, YouTube and most other websites. Some websites will occasioanlly ask you to turn it off in order to see their content, which is fair enough. If you are keen enough to see their stuff then you can choose to be sold adverts, simply by clicking the ABP button in your browser toolbar. It is easy to use and will guide you through the process each time it happens.
2.3. Stop using Google to search for stuff. Consider using Duck Duck Go search engine (https://duckduckgo.com/) or set Ecosia as your homepage which you can also add it as a browesr extension, so when you click in your toolbar, it searches via Ecosia. There are no tracking reports from Ecosia to Google or Facebook so once again, your searches are safe AND they plant 1 tree for every 45 searches you make so you're helping to absorb some of the CO2 your computing produces.
2.4. Consider leaving Facebook and joining a tracker-free, ad free, mischief free social media network like the poorly named MeWe - https://mewe.com/
3. How to download a copy of your Facebook Data, Media & Info
You may want to just have a personal backup of your Facebook data or it it may be so you can save your photos, videos & posts or it may be so you can see all that is stored in your history. Maybe it's so that you are informed & know what you have on Facebook.
Remember - YOU (me, we, us) are the product. We are all being seriously played & manipulated so it's good for us to know what is going on.
How to download your Facebook Data, media & info:
1.1 - Log in to Facebook & go to top right drop down menu arrow
1.2 - Select 'Settings & Privacy'
1.3 - Choose 'Settings'
1.4 - From the left hand column choose 'Your Facebook Info'
1.5 - Select 'Download your info' & click on ‘VIEW'
1.6 - Click on 'SELECT ALL' (or whichever contents, media & data you want to download)
1.7 - Choose 'CREATE FILE'
1.8 - You will be notified with a link & instructions to download to your device your information as soon as it's prepared.
Wrap up& close
As mentioned at the top of this post, the intention of creating this post has been to provide you with a useful resource to help further the awareness, discussion & potential solutions for one of the most pressing issues of our day which (both directly & indirectly) impact us all.
Hopefully there are enough leads, links & resources for you to have a deeper understanding of what we are faced with, and also to feel empowered in the knowledge know that there are many good people already doing positive things to help co-create a better, safer more sustainable internet for all of us.
You've also got a number of tips which will help protect you on Facebook whilst giving you a better experience for the time you do spend on the platform.
If you have any comments or suggested resources to add to the post please post a comment or submit to [email protected]
As always, the intention & ethos is to contribute towards a better world for us all, so please feel free to recommend & suggest resources & of course to forward & share with whoever you feel will benefit. If you have media or influencer contacts - please feel free to reach out to them & let them know that this has been created in service so they can feel free to copy & paste any content to help spread the word - please just give a credit to Ben Brophy & www.thepayitforwardacademy.com
Wishing you & yours all the very best in navigating these times.
Ben & the team
Please feel free to share the post & also recomend any useful resources. It's all about collaboration, idea sharing & paying goodness forward.
(If you'd like free access to a growing portal of empowering content across the interconnected areas of life, simply enter name & email at https://www.thepayitforwardacademy.com - there is a lot of useful content already included with much more on it's way.)
The Pay It Forward Academy is a carefully curated library of free online content from thought leaders across the interconnected areas of life, to help cut through the online distraction, saving your time & money in your discovery. Educate - Empower - Evolve
The Pay It Forward Academy is a carefully curated library of free online content from thought leaders, to help you tap into more of your potential in the interconnected areas of life - whilst cutting through the online noise & saving you time & money!
Access is FREE - simply Pay It Forward by sharing with others!
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