Social media and comments sections were created as a way for people to connect and have an online community. It’s ideal for long-distance friendships, locating and reconnecting with old friends from the past, and finding new people to connect with; it’s been a literal necessity in the Covid era. Plus, in today’s modern world of online marketing and social media managing, many businesses also use it for digital advertising as it’s a cheaper option than print marketing. In theory, social media should give its users a sense of community and a place where they can safely express themselves through posts, pictures, videos, and other content.
However, the sad reality is that social media often does the complete opposite of what it’s intended to do. Many daily users feel more depressed and alone than ever. That’s because it creates a false sense of reality that everyone around you has a perfect life. While some social media users are open and honest about their struggles in life, many users sugarcoat everything, and thus only highlight their best moments. This gives the sense that they are completely and utterly happy, which can make those around them depressed since their lives will never measure up.
Another problem with social media is the fact that people are ruthless and act as internet trolls. They hide behind the screen of their computer and use it as a way to bully others by typing mean comments on posts, or stalking or even blackmailing users. They post cruel comments that they would never say in person because they believe the internet gives them the freedom to do so; internet comment sections have seemingly given humanity carte blanche to pointlessly and unproductively spew hate and negativity with immense hubris. Today, we are taking a look at movies that reveal the disgusting toxicity of the internet, social media, and comments sections.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Unfriended
Universal Pictures
Premiering in 2014, Unfriended was the first full-length movie to exist entirely in the digital space of a computer screen. This supernatural horror film follows five friends who connect on Skype one year after their classmate died by suicide after a video of her passing out and defecating goes viral. During their Skype call, the five friends are joined by an unknown user known as billie227. They quickly learn that billie227 was the account of their classmate who committed suicide. Billie227 begins to taunt them, making them reveal secrets about each other, and forcing the friends to commit their own brutal suicides. Unfriended explores the topic of revenge, fake friendships, secrets, and lies.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Plugged In: The True Toxicity of Social Media Revealed
Plugged In: The True Toxicity of Social Media Revealed is a 2019 53-minute documentary about the effects of social media and smartphones on younger generations. It explores how these generations were born into a world of technology and how difficult it is to function without the use of phones or social media. Plugged In reveals how the design and function of social media operates in a way that hooks people in and distracts them from the real world and face-to-face interactions.
6 A Million Hits
Wild Eye rReleasing
Most bullies act the way they do because they are insecure about themselves and are trying to get attention. That’s evidenced by this next title, A Million Hits, which follows a group of clique girls who bully for views and likes on the internet. These girls ring terror in their high school until Jess, the one responsible for filming their “staged” bullying, tries to take a stand against them. A Million Hits begs the question of how far a group of girls will go to seek social media fame and attention. While the plot may seem disgusting it sadly mirrors reality when it seems today’s social media influencers and users will do anything to get views and attention.
5 Trust
Millennium Films
Besides cyberbullies, the internet is also home to sex offenders and pedophiles. In Trust, Annie is excited to finally have a boyfriend, who she met online. However, Charlie is not all that he seems to be. After arranging for the two of them to meet, Charlie coerces her into a motel, where he rapes her. This encounter twists Annie’s idea of what love actually is and sends her into a downward spiral of confusion and depression. Trust explores the dangers of social media and chat rooms, especially for underage children as it displays their vulnerability and desire to be loved and accepted. Trust is one of the best Clive Owen movies but also features truly amazing performances from everyone involved, including Catherine Keener, Jason Clarke, and Viola Davis.
4 Cyberbully
Muse Entertainment / Gaiam
Cyberbully is an emotionally devastating movie about the toxicity of social media and rumors. Taylor Hillridge (Emily Osment) has a teenager’s dream life, friends at school, and a cute date to the upcoming school dance. On her 17th birthday, she receives a laptop from her mother and is excited about the opportunity to start her online presence. However, she soon finds herself the victim of cyberbullying, and rumors quickly spread about her being a ‘slut’ and a ‘whore.’ As things escalate, Taylor spirals into a deep depression and tries to take her own life. Cyberbully shows the power of words and their ability to easily ruin a person’s reputation.
3 Rise of the Trolls
Similar to Plugged In, Rise of the Trolls is another great documentary to watch regarding the negative effects of social media and smartphones. With a smartphone in hand, all the world is ready at your fingertips. Yet, is that a positive or negative thing? Find out in Rise of the Trolls, which asks the question: “Has internet anonymity unleashed a ‘dark demon’ lurking in all of us?” Discover the answer in this 2016 short documentary.
2 Disconnect
LD Entertainment
Disconnect follows the lives of three people as they interact online. Kyle (Max Thieriot) works as a video chat-room stripper, school student Ben becomes the victim of cyberbullying after he is convinced to send a nude picture of himself to classmates posing as a fake girl, and Cindy (Paula Patton) gets her and her husband’s identity stolen after frequenting an online support group website after the death of their son. Disconnect tells these three stories of dramas in the digital age, and the aftermath of the events. While none of the stories are resolved at the end, the characters do move toward a more hopeful future as they distance themselves from the ‘disconnection’ inherent in social mediums and comment sections. The film is filled with excellent performances from Jason Bateman, Hope Davis, Alexander Skarsgård, and others.
1 The Internet Warriors
The Internet Warriors is a short film produced by The Guardian and asks: who are all those people who get so angry and offended online, spending so much time spreading hate at strangers? This question inspired Norwegian filmmaker Kyrre Lien to spend three years traveling the world to discover the personalities behind all those ‘internet warriors’ and why they do what they do. It’s a frustrating glimpse at the ultimately pathetic people bullying in comment sections who need a lot of help.
With so many films and documentaries about the negative impacts of social media and the internet, it really makes you wonder how healthy the world’s population is today, and why so many people have so much bitter anger.
