My Thoughts On Netflix’s Social Dilemma

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In the Netflix documentary Social Dilemma, top thought leaders in Silicon Valley’s technology revolution reveal shocking truths on how technology is used to become an addiction….but after watching this I believe they failed to highlight a bigger problem.
 
Social media is as real as a family portrait.
 
Ever walked into a friend’s or family members house and see the family portrait staring back at you?
 
Every 3-5 years most families spend an afternoon together in the studio trying to all smile perfectly at the same time to show their relatives their perfect family.
 
This capture in space and time is not the reality of the family. That picture was only a snapshot of the best lightning, photoshopping and timing photograph.
 
Viewers who don’t know the family personally may think that the perfect family does not have problems they do.
 
Unfortunately, even the most ‘perfect families’ have pain, chaos and abuse that reign in their household that cannot be seen in the portrait.
 
Social media creates this same illusion but only worse.
 
Filters and creative copywriting can transform everyday moments into life changing events for all to marvel at.
 
Simply smile, crop, filter, write, post and watch people like this fabrication of reality.
 
Likes, comments, and followers can all be bought.
 
Job titles on LinkedIn usually aren’t checked.
 
And IG influencers don’t have to show you the pink slip of their fancy car they have in their garage.
 
And yet, we struggle to get as many followers as the profile next door but we don’t know they are just trying to do the same.
 
Don’t bother trying to keep up with the virtual Jones’.
 
They don’t even exist.
 
It’s just social media creating the illusion that you are not good enough and that is exactly what they want you to feel to keep you on.
However, social media has incredible benefits as well on a professional level leaving it nearly impossible to neglect. 
 
Because of that, here are my 5 biggest tricks you can do to tame the beast: 
 
1) Turn off all email notifications from your social media accounts. You know where the app is, you don’t need to be reminded.
2) Remove Social media apps from your Smartphone (I know with IG this isn’t possible) and go through a browser to visit them.
3) Don’t leave your phone next to you while you sleep. Buy an alarm if that’s your excuse for $10 on Amazon
4) Don’t check your social media first thing in the morning.
5) Limit your social media use to 20-minute blocks to 3 times a day where you just go on social media and avoid multi-tasking.
 
Give that a go for 30 days and watch what happens to your self-esteem and productivity!
Jeff Butler

Jeff Butler Internationally respected speaker and consultant, Jeff Butler helps bridge generational gaps between Millennials and companies looking for their talent and patronage. Butler has quickly built his reputation as a memorable presenter with tangible solutions for attracting, retaining, and engaging Millennials as employees and customers. Within just the past three years, he has spoken at two TEDx events and multiple Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Amazon, and LinkedIn.

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