User reviews

Feeling lost, divided, like the world's spiraling into a dumpster fire? You're not crazy, and you're not alone. "The Cost of Convenience" digs deep into the disturbing connection between our endless scrolling and the chaos swirling around us.

This isn't some whiny rant about screen time. This documentary punches you in the gut, showing how our addiction to "likes" and instant updates fuels real-world breakdowns. It's about mental health, yes, but also about the way tech manipulates our emotions, amplifies outrage, and destroys our ability to even agree on what's real anymore.

Think those viral conspiracy theories are harmless? Think your feed's just mindless fun? "The Cost of Convenience" traces a line from your mindless scrolling to the rise of extremism, the collapse of trust, and the feeling that society itself is unraveling.

It's not a comfortable watch. It's a necessary one. This is more than a film about tech addiction - it's a blistering look at how our mindless consumption of digital convenience is eroding the world we live in.

As a person in their late 60's, I approached this documentary with a hint of skepticism, unsure of how it would resonate with my experiences shaped over the last few decades. Yet, from the first 20 minutes, it shattered my doubts. This film wasn't just about today's gadgets; it took me on a journey through the last four decades of digitization, offering a profound historical understanding that I had never before grasped. It peeled back the layers of complex tech concepts, making them accessible and relatable. Through its lens, I saw how technology has woven its way into the fabric of our lives, influencing everything from how we connect with others to how we view the world.

Fascinating film that should scare all of us into action. Thorough review of the history, but also fast-paced and gripping.

The film is an eye-opener to the insidious nature of surveillance capitalism, where human experience is commodified and privacy is a relic of the past.

It opens with a stark reminder of the trade-off we've made: convenience for privacy. Companies like Google and Facebook have built empires on the back of our personal data. They track, analyze, and exploit our digital footprints to predict and influence our behavior, turning a profit at the expense of our autonomy.

What's striking about the documentary is its ability to distill complex economic theories into digestible insights. It paints a vivid picture of a world where every click, like, and share is a currency in the hands of tech giants. The film doesn't shy away from the technicalities of data mining and algorithmic manipulation, making it an educational piece for both the tech-savvy and the uninitiated.

The narrative is interspersed with real-world examples that hit close to home. From targeted advertising to facial recognition, the documentary lays bare the myriad ways our information is used-not just to sell us products but to shape our perceptions and behaviors.

One of the documentary's strengths is its focus on the human impact. It's not just about the loss of privacy; it's about the erosion of individual freedom. In that way, I'd say it's a call to action.

My husband and I greatly enjoyed watching, though it was a bit scary, and we won't ever look at technology the same way again.

"The Cost of Convenience" is a compelling documentary that explores the profound impact of technology in our society. It analyzes not just the familiar negative effects of social media but also the broader ways technology shapes our lives. The film's strength is its accessible and engaging presentation of complex issues. It highlights the dangers of technology, such as privacy erosion, the spread of information silos, and the manipulation of public opinion through targeted advertising.

This documentary excels at explaining intricate topics in a clear and engaging way. It highlights the risks of our growing reliance on technology. Furthermore, "The Cost of Convenience" looks ahead to the potential dangers of artificial intelligence's rapid development. The film raises crucial questions about the ethics of AI and stresses the importance of responsible growth and regulation in this area.

I am a parent of 2 teenagers, and this documentary hit me right in the heart. It's not just another film; it's a soul-stirring journey into the core of our digital existence. Watching it, I couldn't help but reflect on the world I'm raising my children in and the profound impact technology has on their lives. The film's mission-to unveil the true costs of our digital dependency-is a wake-up call we desperately need. It's about more than just understanding the dangers lurking behind our screens; it's about preserving the essence of what it means to be human. Each revelation felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders, urging me to take a stand for my family's future. This documentary isn't just informative; it's a heartfelt plea to reclaim our humanity in a world dominated by algorithms and data. After watching, I'm inspired to make every effort to protect my children, our values, and our collective humanity, while there's still time.

As a parent who grew up in an era before the internet, I understand the importance of educating ourselves about the potential dangers of the online world, especially when it comes to our children's mental health. It's crucial for us to equip ourselves with knowledge and awareness to navigate these challenges effectively.

In our modern digital age, documentaries serve as invaluable tools for shedding light on the dark side of the internet and its impact on mental well-being. By watching and learning from these documentaries, we can gain insights into the various ways in which technology can affect our lives and the lives of our loved ones.

Additionally, documentaries like 'The Cost of Convenience' delve into the effects of excessive screen time on children and adolescents, offering practical advice for parents on how to navigate these challenges. By understanding the risks associated with digital addiction, cyberbullying, and comparison culture, we can take proactive steps to protect our children and promote their healthy development.

Ultimately, by watching these documentary and engaging in open conversations with our children, we can empower ourselves to make informed decisions about technology use and safeguard their mental health in an increasingly connected world.

This film is essential viewing for those wanting to be versed in the technological infiltration of humanity. Just researching the background of the experts interviewed has expanded my awareness of those taking action against these novel addictions, such as reStart's work with addressing screen addiction. As a viewer, this would easily be made a 10/10 if the framing of this work was more solution-oriented and especially not leaning on a fatalistic "it's too late" sensibility that the film ends on. However, if there's any sort of movement by the film makers to use this as a foundation for movements aimed at transcending the issues highlighted, I can see such focusing on the problems as justified, which is why I give this movie an optimistic 9/10. Solutions exist before problems.

The Cost of Convenience documentary was very informative and the message was very well presented. I really hope the creators of the film will bring this message to schools across the world for children ages 10-16 years old. It would be a great way for children to understand how helpful technology is and also how it can be damaging. The film touches up on the subject of human behaviour, ethics, human rights and privacy. We don't realize how much personal information we share online and how this data is used. It is scary to think about all the information I've shared online and how this information is used. Need to be more mindful of how I'll be using technology!

A technological eon has passed in the four years since "The Social Dilemma" released. Silicon Valley has evolved so much, it'd be irresponsible for the casual observer to fall behind the recently discovered truths about our modern social tools.

As time passes, social scientists and thought leaders are better informed with data, (dis)proven previous hypotheses, and can better predict trajectories. This film puts their clarity and clairvoyance front and center. The narrative is clear: social media (supercharged by AI) has MASSIVE implications for our humanity and the fate of civilization. So, pretty light stuff =)

As Prometheus hands us fire once again, David Connolly masterfully illustrates how humans aren't prepared for the god-like abilities of our technology. The economic incentives aren't aligned, end users are willfully naive, and our regulatory bodies perpetually lag the present moment. It was JUST in 2023 that surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy gave a tobacco-era like warning about the dangers of social media. WTF.

The film is accessible to viewers of all demographics: a brief history of Silicon Valley for the older generations still clicking their phishing emails. It details the physiological need for deep, in-person human connection for those younger audiences whose primary source of connection is "Like."

I personally enjoyed Robert Greene's ("48 Laws of Power") appearance, and this gem: "We get to know that we're alive and that we're human by eye contact. We're not used to handling the disconnected lives that technology brings us."

The assertion that social media actually influences our behavior was alarming for me, a new concept I'm still processing. Most people say "I don't mind they collect my data, I like the personal recommendations" or "I've got nothing to hide" - but misses the point that the recommendations actually steer us into commercialized archetypes that consume more. Those ads aren't to help you, they're to sell you. The Influencer phenomenon has given unprecedented access to fame, that will come with a slew of unknown, unintended consequences. Robert Greene again: "If we allow our destiny to be sold, then we're going to lose that fundamental autonomy that is what it is to be human."

A few other valuable nuggets I learned:

• What "limbic resonance" is.

• Dramatic misinformation gets 6x more clicks than real news on Facebook (triggers fight or flight response, so it's like not looking at a car accident).

• Content is produced by 1% of users on social media (is that even "social"?)
• Even if your phone is off, the microphone is still on.

• You're not allowed to give away your right to freedom of thought.

• Average user spends 5 hours a day on the phone, 2.5 months straight on the phone. "That's normal"

I agree with Roger McNamee (also featured in Social Dilemma) assertion that all technologies have hidden costs, but disagree the cost is "always" greater than the benefit. As awareness grows, I hope we mitigate the risks and extract more of the benefits. Doing so will require some radical changes to the rules and incentives. It starts at the individual level's awareness, so make this a NEED to watch. Oh, what a time to be alive!

Watching 'The Cost of Convenience' was a profound reminder of the power of critical thinking in a world saturated with distractions. The film masterfully exposes the veneer of constant busyness and the compulsive need to engage with our devices, revealing these acts as mere diversions from what truly matters-our connections with the people around us.

It goes beyond the surface to uncover the unsettling truth that these distractions are not innocuous; they're a sleight of hand for deeper, more manipulative purposes, including the harvesting of our data to shape future behaviors.

This film serves as a wake-up call, urging viewers to see beyond the superficial allure of convenience and to question the real cost of our modern lifestyle.

It reminds us of the importance of being present and valuing genuine human interactions over virtual ones. 'The Cost of Convenience' doesn't just critique; it enlightens, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of our digital age.

A heartfelt thank you to the creators for this insightful and eye-opening experience.

This documentary helps us to better understand how technology has turned against us. The problem with big tech is quite simple. When you are the product, you will be exploited. The Silicon Valley business models simply don't provide a way out.

How we got here and where we seem to be going are explained by the film. I would consider it to be pretty neutral on the optimism/pessimism scale. It really works toward getting people to become more aware and taking action against the problems we face with the Internet & big tech in general.

There seems to be a movement brewing amongst the public and this movie is aligned with those efforts.

We've been guided into a new digital era without stopping to ponder why or what has brought us to this point. The Cost Of Convenience delves deep into the true costs of our relationship with exponential technologies. While many are familiar with "The Social Dilemma," this film dares to go beyond by illuminating the audience about the deeper underlying issue of surveillance capitalism. What is at stake here is our human autonomy and the right to will our own future. I walk away from this film thinking, where and to whom my personal Data is being brokered to? And how can I find digital solutions that value data ownership.

The Cost of Convenience is a necessary piece of film that sheds light on the mental and emotional taxes we pay in order to stay connected. Delving deeper than just the commercial benefits that arise I loved that the movie was interested in the psychological impact on future young populations. I wish there was more of a deeper dive into the speakers, as each person seemed extremely knowledgeable regarding digital addiction.

I am hoping that this film ignites another round of conversations around digital wellness, social network & connection, and what we are all willing to trade in order to be linked in.