Does This Episode of Black Mirror Predict what the world is coming to??
Chosen Episode ofBlack Mirror: Season 3 Episode 1- Nosedive
The reality of a dystopian reality is already occurring in society today. Receiving ratings from others, or getting “likes” (as we call it) already exsists. Everything posted on social media and anything you decide to publically display is meticulously judged by others, either consciously or subconsciously. Everyone views things differently, and therefore react accordingly. Posting something on social media allows those who are in your circle (public, friends, personal etc.) to access your life, you are giving an open window for people to judge. Having a like button, comments section, and emoji symbols are just the beginning to a dystopian reality. Society as is does not fare quite as severe as the show, but there is motivation and progression to eventually get us to a point that may mirror the show.
It is understood, and expressed even to children, once you say something or express yourself, it is made public, to be careful what you say. The show takes this idea and really goes full throttle showing the audience how severe life can be based on one’s actions. Again, I feel as if this idea of a “points system” is very severe and hopefully will never occur. I am not going to say this will never happen, but the show creates a dark satire of how we judge others. In Nosedive, this type of rating system is based on anything and everything you do in life like renting an apartment, spplying for a job or a simple conversation with a stranger. One wrong move, one wrong word and you “drop points” as viewers see in Lacie’s life, she needs a 4.5 in order to rent an apartment, she must climb the social ranks in order to achieve the status she needs to get ahead in life. For simple life challenges, they are made more difficult by implementing your points to coincide with entitlement. The points system almost represents societies socio- economic status, so I guess in a sense this does already occur. In the real world, we like people based on who they are (or hope that’s what people do). This world of a dystopian reality emphasizes people’s concerns and obsessions with getting likes, it doesn’t even matter who likes you, it’s about numbers, a “bank”. This bank indicates your success and likability to others, the sad truth of how pathetic people are becoming. Thankfully we as humans have not yet succumb to publically making our self-worth (in the technological world) public awareness. The show tries to display how far this system takes over and that it controls lives. Everyone, everywhere are following who you are and what you do, ready to judge. The show creatively gives deeper meaning to the silliness that is this dystopian society in the show. The show mirrors our society and how ridiculous we are becoming. In many cases the meanings behind things in the show are not literal, but they do show a scary similarity to things that are evolving.
As sad as it sounds I almost feel that the episode I watched, and its outcomes are too quickly going to (if not already) become a reality. Having a ranking system and living through social media, what others think of us and social ranking are not far off from reality. The one thing we can do to slow down the process of this occurring to the point depicted in the show is not let social media take over our lives. Humans have become social interacting, tech savvy people and have become consumed. We need to stop, and literally put down our phones, tablets and computers. We need to start to live life like it was before technology took over. Nosedive over exaggerated what has started to happen now, but it’s not too far off from where we are. If we continue in this life sucking direction, we may as well give up (ok I’m being dramatic). I feel as if people don’t even know what reality is. I would not be surprised if in a few years, we start to hear about people who think they are living a virtual reality. Social media is a place to create and become someone you want to be. It’s easy to be carefree, happy and perfect, which is what makes it so desirable. We need a kick in the butt; we need to take pictures (on a throw away camera) and not look at screens/use filters to manipulate reality. What we really need to do is be real. We are becoming robots, unable to feel reality when it bites us back.
