Social Media Monster

Saw a screening of the film and was drawn into the story. It is a strange tale of someone who will go to any lengths for attention that was well done and well told. I left feeling somewhat sorry for the subject due to his overwhelming need for attention at any cost yet questioning how someone like him could willingly do so much damage through dishonesty and his own insecurity. It is a sad reflection of a culture more interested in "likes" and appearances than actual content of life offline. I highly recommend the film to anyone. It is a view into the shallow and self serving world of online personas where one only has to pull back the curtain to view Oz as he really is.

An interesting and eye-opening piece of independent documentary work. Peter John Ross (director) tells a very personal story about today's social media problems, in particular - the problem of digital "trolling" and how it can affect anyone who works, communicates, or plainly exists on popular social media platforms. The film presents an extreme and very unusual example of cyber-stalking that (in this case) goes outside of digital boundaries and enters people's homes and workplaces. How do we deal with Internet bullying? Are big media corporations doing anything to protect people who use their platforms? What can we do as a society to make our communication healthier and more civilized? Through an entertaining blend of interviews, found footage, and subject's own audio-visual content, the film exposes an ugly side of our modern social media world - the world that has its own protagonists, antagonists, and monsters.

This is an incredible true story of a man who harassed and cyberstalked an entire city for no reason other than having a huge ego. None of the people interviewed for this movie expected to become victims of a notorious cyberstalker who wouldn't take no for an answer. They were and are innocent of any accusations made against them by this monster. What is probably the most incredible thing is that no one in law enforcement will stop this man as he continues to harass and stalk people online to this day. Sadly, there are enough stories about this social media monster that could lead to a series of sequels about him and how he gets away with what he does. And no matter what he claims, he is NOT an activist, journalist, author or filmmaker. He is a nobody.

There's lots of reasons to like this film but the main reason I'd give it a high recommendation is it highlights a subject matter that affects many lives beyond victims of Matthew Berdyck, the film's central antagonist. Social media has completely changed our lives and the way we communicate akin to the invention of the telephone and the fact that people like Matthew can abuse it to the extent that he does without facing any meaningful consequences is absurd. Director Peter John Ross, a victim himself, does a very good job of seeing the bigger picture past his own grievances and the film ultimately serves as a call to action for change in the modern digital landscape. There must be more accountability and this film is the cold hard evidence. In fact, since Matthew is still unhinged and unchecked, even writing this review is putting me in his crosshairs and I will probably have to endure waves of attacks from him after he reads this, which he definitely will.

This is an amazing view into a tale about the dark side of the internet and how online predators hide in the gaps between the current laws dealing with online harassment. A man is able to troll and harass an a small Missouri town with little to no repercussions. Not only is he able to annoy and bother the citizens who dare stand up to him, but he also become violent and terrifying. As the story unfolds we see that this "troll" hides behind his keyboard to harass and threaten people all across the country. This is cautionary tale about how to engage with people online and how strangers can make your life a living hell with just a computer and an internet connection.