How the internet warps our emotions | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Emotional Numbness: A state of feeling nothing, neither joy nor sorrow.
• Trolling: Provoking emotional reactions in others online, often for personal gratification.
• Effective Computing: A field of computer science focused on influencing human emotion through technology.
• Facial Action Coding System (FACS): A method of quantifying facial expressions to understand emotions.
• Behavioral Technology: Using principles of behaviorism to shape behavior, as envisioned by B.F. Skinner.
• Internet Addiction: Excessive internet use leading to negative consequences in real life.
• Emotional Manipulation: Exploiting or influencing someone's emotions for personal gain or other purposes.

1. The Problem of Emotional Numbness

• Many people report feeling emotionally numb, a state of "nothingness," which is spreading and becoming a concern.
• Therapists note a shift from patients complaining about strong emotions (anxiety, depression) to a lack of feeling altogether, described as being a "flatliner."

2. Trolling and Emotional Manipulation

• Trolls recognized early on the power of manipulating emotions online.
• Andrew, an "OG internet troll," demonstrates how to provoke anger and negative reactions in others.
  • Example: Using specific language ("LOL kid," "baby doll") to trigger responses.
• Kim, a victim of Andrew's trolling, describes the frustration of being constantly provoked and offended.
• Trolling can be seen as a way for individuals to gain power and attention by dominating others' thoughts and emotions.

3. The Business of Emotions: Love Factories and Effective Computing

• In China, "love factories" employ live streamers who cultivate strong feelings in viewers.
  • Jean, a top streamer, is skilled at creating emotional connections with her audience.
• Dr. Rosalind Picard at MIT is a pioneer in affective computing, which aims to influence human emotion through technology.
• The Centigramraph, an early emotion-measuring device, inspired the field.
• Effective computing seeks to craft computer interactions mindful of a person's affective state.
• Companies are investing billions in technologies that measure and interpret emotions.
  • These technologies can track pupil dilation and other physiological indicators.
• Concerns arise that the ability to measure emotions at scale could lead to increased manipulation.

4. Tech Domination and Emotional Control

• Mistress Harley, a "tech dominatrix," uses technology to control men's emotions and behavior.
  • She uses surveillance and psychological manipulation to induce shame and humiliation.
• Harley argues that understanding someone's vulnerabilities is key to controlling their emotions.
• She highlights the similarity between the physiological sensations of shame and arousal.

5. The Science of Emotions: FACS and Behavioral Technology

• The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) reduces emotions to numerical codes based on facial expressions.
  • Example: Joy is coded as "number 20," universal across individuals and cultures.
• Critics worry that reducing emotions to numbers diminishes their sacredness and individuality.
• B.F. Skinner's experiments with pigeons demonstrated that behavior can be molded through reinforcement.
• Skinner envisioned a "behavioral technology" to solve societal problems by controlling behavior.
• He created the "Skinner box" (or "air crib") to control a child's environment and shape their behavior.

6. Russian Social Media Manipulation

• Ivonne (pseudonym), a social media entrepreneur in Russia, creates TikTok content funded by the Russian government.
• The content is designed to influence public opinion and behavior.

7. The Therapist's Perspective: Internet Addiction and Emotional Depletion

• Therapist Morton Fanger observes that people are increasingly preferring the internet to real life.
• He argues that the internet provides concentrated feelings, leading to emotional emptiness and addiction.
• Fanger expresses concern about losing his children's attention to the internet.
• He notes that people may prefer feeling nothing to experiencing the difficulties of real-world emotions.
• People seek structure, control, and power imbalances, finding a "liberation in submission."

8. Seeking a Way Out: Hope and Real-Life Connections

• The filmmaker seeks advice from Morton Fanger on how to end the film on a hopeful note.
• Fanger suggests two approaches: warning against the dangers of the internet or highlighting the value of real-life connections.
• He emphasizes that the "model for a better world" already exists in real life, through relationships and experiences.
• Andrew, the former troll, moves to Vermont to live with a girlfriend he met online, suggesting a potential for positive change.
• His girlfriend challenges his trolling behavior and encourages him to be himself.

9. Conclusion

• The film explores the pervasive influence of technology on human emotions, from trolling and manipulation to affective computing and social media manipulation.
• It raises concerns about emotional numbness, internet addiction, and the potential for technology to control and distort our feelings.
• However, it also offers a glimmer of hope in the power of real-life connections and the possibility of finding genuine emotions and fulfillment outside the digital world.
• The film suggests that while the internet can be a source of emotional manipulation, it can also be a platform for finding meaningful relationships and personal growth.