The Social Dilemma, by Jeff Orlowski, Netflix, 2020
The Political Economy of Communication 8(2), 75–103 © The Author 2020 http://www.polecom.org SPECIAL SECTION The Social Dilemma, by Jeff Orlowski, Netflix, 2020 Film reviews with section editor’s introduction Editor: Paschal Preston, School of Communication, Dublin City University, Dublin Review I: The Social Dilemma: A Contradictory Narrative About Platform Power Robin Mansell, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science Review II: Missing in Action: Silences and Evasions in The Social Dilemma Graham Murdock, Centre for Research in Communication and Culture, Loughborough University, UK Review III: Escaping the Matrix or Repeating Liberal (Techno)Solutions? Eugenia Siapera, Information and Communication Studies, University College Dublin Review IV: The Social Dilemma's Dilemma: Challenging and Reproducing Social Media Myths Yuqi Na, CAMRI, University of Westminster SPECIAL SECTION 76 The Social Dilemma: Partial Insights Amidst Fuzzy Frames Paschal Preston, School of Communication, Dublin City University, Dublin Keywords: social dilemma; social media; media theory; political economy of communication; critical theory; technology and society; AI; algorithms; digital media; media policy The core concerns of this journal, a specific niche within the broad field of media and communication studies, have become ever more mainstream of late. Indeed, whilst concerns about the evolving scope, role, influence, operations, control and regulation of the media of public communication have always been central features of modern capitalism, they have come to occupy a prominent spot in public attention and debate. This has little to do with spectacular, media-friendly, enterprising boosterism or knowledge- based entrepreneurship, or related efforts in celebrity promotion on the part of key researchers and authors from the political economy of communication.
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