‘The Social Dilemma’ and the Bigger Dilemma

A few weeks ago after my wife and I put our boys to sleep, we pulled up the new Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. Featuring a number of noted authors, scholars, tech leaders, and activists, the film helps explain the growing influence of algorithmic technology, especially in social media. 

Led by Tristan Harris, former design ethicist and president of the Center for Humane Technology, The Social Dilemma explores how these technologies are specifically designed to serve up a perfectly...