“Your Attention Please”
(USA)
Letterboxd (4.5/5), Imdb critics review
#BrentMarchant #YourAttentionPlease #documentary #SaraRobin #socialmedia #cellphones #cyberbullying #teensuicide #BigInformation #AI #antisocialbehavior
It has been suggested that humanity is at a cross-roads, that we face an uncertain future in which mankind’s relationship with technology is at the center of the direction in which we’re headed. The impact of electronic technology, programs and devices, including the internet, social media, cell phones and now AI, and how we use these inventions will determine the nature of the world, society and culture we create. And, if we’re not cognizant of what we’re doing, we could end up manifesting something deleterious instead of something designed to improve our quality of life. Those are the issues forthrightly explored in this new documentary from filmmaker Sara Robin, a revelatory, eye-opening examination of where this technology had led us and where it could potentially be leading us as we head into tomorrow. It raises the fundamental question of will we be its master, or will it become the master of us? The film explores this issue from several standpoints, most notably that of the influence this technology has had on how we spend our time, devote our focus and live our lives, especially where those who are most impressionable are concerned – today’s youth, particularly adolescents. As the picture documents, this audience has been deliberately targeted by Big Information to make them captive (and captivated) users but who, in the process, have simultaneously become unwitting victims of low self-esteem, cyberbullying and an alarming rise in the rate of teen suicide. This is due in large part to the innately anonymous nature of its product and a woeful lack of safeguards to protect them against such antisocial behavior. However, as alarming as this might be, the film also chronicles the noble efforts of committed safety advocates – many of them the parent survivors of deceased victimized users – to institute legislation and implement other built-in measures aimed at making the cyber world a less hazardous and more enriching experience, as it was originally intended to be. In addition, the film explores proactive steps that are being taken to encourage diehard users to join “Offline Clubs,” organizations aimed at promoting interpersonal interaction as an alternative to incessant screen time, a growing movement designed to turn back the clock and facilitate re-engagement on a human level. “Your Attention Please” makes its case for these measures clearly and concisely, with a well-organized, heartfelt, well-reasoned flow of information presented in a manner that’s urgent without becoming sensationalized or unduly alarmist. The film’s fine mix of poignant interviews with activists, archive footage of congressional hearings and public demonstrations, inspired animation, and hard-hitting factual documentation shows what we could be up against if we don’t take action to address these issues before they irretrievably get out of hand, begging us to ask ourselves, what course will we take? Can we fix matters while we still have the chance, or will we allow distractions to get the better of us and obliviously lead us down a path of no return? This offering debuted at the recent SXSW Film Festival, and distribution plans are still to be determined, but it’s definitely a worthwhile watch that viewers should be sure to see once it becomes more widely available. As someone who came to the world of electronic technology later in life (more out of vocational necessity than for its shiny penny attributes), I’ve appreciated how it can help to make life easier and more productive, but I have never succumbed to it as an overpowering, enveloping way of life. I remember “the before times” when we would actively seek out engagement with others, and it saddens me to see how so many individuals (especially young ones) have fallen prey to its negative qualities. Nevertheless, this release shows how attainable it is to turn things around (easily and surprisingly quickly) to put us back collectively on a saner path. Let’s hope we follow its advice while we still have the opportunity.