Black Mirror is a unique t.v. series that explore different dimensions of society, often in a futuristic setting. One of my most favorite episodes from this series is called "Nosedive." The episode explores what it would be like if Social Media dictated the quality of life for individuals such as access to clubs, neighborhoods to live in, and even jobs.
The whole premise is predicated on the idea that the more upvotes you get, the more popular you are. The more "upvotes" you have, the more access you get to the luxurious of this world. As simple as this sounds, the episode quickly takes a turn towards the darker facets of this life. For example, how 4's walk on eggshells and ignore lower #'s because they're so close to becoming a 5.
Perhaps one of the most poignant and relevant themes in this episode is how social media drives us towards superficiality. We hide behind masks. We paint beautiful pictures and stories that glorify the lore of ourselves.
We'd rather gain upvotes through facade...
When inside we really are a mess.
This creates a culture where we think the same, act the same, upvote the same, post the same, and become the same.
There is little room for authenticity, individuality, and creativity. Rather, you must conform, follow, and upvote the 5's in order just to get by.
However disturbing Black Mirror can be. I always take comfort in the fact that it is pure fiction. It is hypothetical. It is made up.
But now, I am not so sure.
If you looked into the black mirror, what reflection would you see?
