Black Mirror. Pleaseeeeeee tell me you have seen at least one episode from this science fiction series on Netflix?! It examines modern society and the unanticipated consequences of new technologies. Super interesting and whatever way you think each story is headed, I know for a fact it’ll do a 360 and run in the opposite direction. Now, it may seem as though I’m tryna boost the ratings on this series; but I actually have an interesting connection to make – just trust me and keep reading.
Imagine your daily life. Are you glued to your phone, iPad or laptop? Do you use it to get directions or to research the restaurant with the cheapest delivery fee on Deliveroo? *looks away and pretends I don’t do that*. I bet you take snapchats of things you find funny and spur-of-the-moment shots of quick coffee dates that later end up on the gram. Does 50 likes make you feel good or bad? Does a comment on an Instagram picture make you feel like others enjoy and support your content? What do people think of your online profile where things always seem perfect? Are things actually perfect? The questions could go on and on. Black Mirrors ‘Nosedive’ (series 3, episode 1 if you want to check it out) perfectly depicts the link between how we value ourselves against the view of others through ratings. Let’s continue…
Nosedive is such an interesting concept, mainly because it’s basically a representation of modern life. It is set in a world where people can rate each other from one to five stars for every interaction they have and these ratings can impact their socioeconomic status. Below is a YouTube clip that provides a quick insight into the episode, from creator and writer Charlie Brooker.
I guess the link between all of this is that even today, people’s online identity is comprised of a social media profile that can be viewed by anyone and you value yourself based off of the interactions of others. I feel strongly that Instagram is an example of this, with influencers trying to gain the approval of their followers though likes or by trying to ‘influence’ them into purchasing a certain product or brand. I guess this stems from social media being about your best self rather than your authentic self. This is similar to main character ‘Lacie’ in Nosedive and her display of a persona designed to be liked by others, even if it isn’t genuine to who she is.
In terms of social media, I think it’s fair to say that if I saw a girl promoting some detox tea whilst dolled up to the nines, happy asf and in good shape, that I would probably click ‘add to cart’. The problem is that you’re not just buying into a product. You’re buying into the whole concept of allowing others to decide your worth and vice versa based upon the positive or negative reception to content. The desire to feel of worth to others comes down to a need to belong. This sense of belonging is effectively tribalism and denotes our behaviours and attitudes to a certain social group. I think it is important to see Instagram as a particular and somewhat ‘modern tribe’. In this ‘modern tribe’ we feel as though we belong, even if our virtual sense of self is distorted by the response of other tribespeople.
The main message I’m trying to get at is that we all want to belong, but maybe we should all cultivate a little awareness to the fact that everything isn’t as it seems. Lacie couldn’t be bother to maintain her high rating (it’s so hard not to give spoilers) and I think we need to give ourselves a day off now and again. It’s okay if we don’t have our shit together while posting a picture where the shit is together. So the next time you see someone promoting a weird flavour detox tea, maybe consider the usual builder brew. #buildertribe
Let me know if you have seen Black Mirror (or Nosedive for that matter) and feel free to share your ideas below x
Carla's Digital Media and Language Blog 