Skip to content

Technology and society as depicted in Black Mirror

Recently I’ve been watching the British television show, Black Mirror, and I’m finding that it’s quite an interesting take on what the future might hold.

            Recently I’ve been watching the British television show, Black Mirror, and I’m finding that it’s quite an interesting take on what the future might hold. The show is sci-fi and can be quite out there; but, the writers of it have brought up some interesting storylines.

            The show’s episodes, although you can tell they are set in the same universe, standalone – you don’t have to watch the first episode of the first season to follow along in a different season. There are a few Easter eggs in which you see something that occurred in a different episode, but otherwise they standalone.

            One thing, Season 1 Episode 1, is a lot, so I’d suggest maybe starting somewhere else; I started Season 1 Episode 3 and then worked my way back. (Just be aware that the show is rated as Mature meaning the episodes may or may not include – sexual content, crude language, and violence.

            It’s unfortunate in a sense, however, because of the dialogue that the show could elicit for people of the younger generation that have grown up with technology.

            In Season 3, Episode 1, “Nosedive,” it looks at the importance of social media and the “likes” one receives. Every single interaction you have with someone is followed by your choice to give them one to five stars. Those with 4.5 stars or higher are put on a pedestal; which even comes with deals on real estate, etc… while those with lower scores are considered the dredges of society.

            The episode follows an individual who is focused on working her way up from a 4.2 to a 4.5; but, in her quest to improve her score by attending a friend’s wedding – who hasn’t dipped below 4.7 in six months – backfires and the woman’s score drops as she attempts to attend the wedding resulting in her “friend” telling her to simply no longer come.

            The show heavily features technology like this including some interesting thoughts of where society may end up one day. 3D games are being developed to be processed by your brain; camera’s are in people’s eyes which allows them to take still pictures or recall a memory as if a video camera had taken it – with the capability to post it on a television screen for all to see; you’re able to block somebody which results in a fuzzy, white void and you can no longer hear that individual – and the block extends to all photos/videos of them as well as to their offspring; or a soldier is given an implant which makes him see the enemy as a terrifying monster in order to make killing easier for them.

            In each episode I always marvel at the technology they allude to or use; but, at the same time humanity somehow uses the tech in a way that humans pervert and use in ways to harm each other.

            It not only begs the questions of – how far will we take technology? And are those crazy storylines that far off or is it depicting a possibility of what our society is hurdling towards? – but, it asks philosophical questions regarding human nature and technology – are we innately good or evil or a blank slate? If we lose the connection to people because of technology will we be more indifferent to each other? (And yes, I’m already thinking about how people “troll” social media saying things they would never say to someone’s face.)

            Overall, the show is an interesting look at what society’s fears might be with the ever increasing advancement of technology.