A very important film/documentary is in cinemas right now: Molly vs The Machines. Most of the screenings have happened but there a few more you can get to:

After that it will be shown on Channel 4, but I'm not sure exactly when that will start.

I have seen the film (at an advance screening) and have met the director Marc Silver. Also there were Molly's father and two of her best friends. It was intensely moving, and incredibly well made.

What is it about?

Molly vs The Machines is a documentary/film that does two things: 1. it re-enacts the final hours of Molly Russell, a 14-year old who took her own life after a downward spiral of harmful Instagram content, and 2. it brilliantly shows how that was possible, who is responsible at the top levels of Meta (who own Instagram), and proves that they knew. And they did nothing to stop it.

Why this is the most important film you'll see this year

If you have children you need to see this film. It is mandatory viewing. Why? Because in my opinion it shows perfectly the callous and calculated way in which Big Tech social media platforms harm teenagers, and you as a parent need to see that dark side.

You need to see the details, you need feel the rage. The indignant rage. The "How fucking dare they" rage. Because behind the algorithm are people. Greedy feckless people who could change it, improve it, make it safer. But they choose not to - because not doing so boosts profits. It boosts 'engagement'. It brings in more advertising dollars.

Making the invisible, visible

The genius of this film is that it takes an inherently invisible problem -recommendation algorithms in social media - and makes it visible. The filmmakers explain them with innovative visual aids and re-enactments. They show that it can spiral out of control quickly and without mercy. They show that it could happen to anyone.

The depiction of a happy, caring 14 year old who said goodnight to her parents, with not a hint of distress, and never woke up again... that will haunt me. I research this stuff all the time but this film made me realise that the problem is worse than I thought. The dark side of social media can creepy out from behind the memes and cat videos and pounce on anyone.

What it isn't

The film isn't depressing. It isn't dull. It isn't preachy, overly explained, or overly academic.

What it is

It is one of those life affirming moments when you realise that you were right to suspect the social media companies and their addictive products. You were right to suspect that there's something creepy going on, and this film proves it. And it shows you the disgusting people behind the apps.

The film also makes very interesting use of AI, both in the film itself and in their website. For those interested the AI company they used are Empathy.AI. The site uses an open source model that is looking up only from the source materials provided to it, so the information is very accurate and helpful. And no big tech AI models are used.

What the director says about it

We made the film as a warning about the people who control the machines, about their vision for our future and the type of power they wield

This is why Rebel Tech Alliance took notice immediately. The film looks behind Instagram and exposes the people who control it. This aligns perfectly with our approach, for example in our deep dive on Meta, or our deep dive on billionaires.

And furthermore, the film was co-written by the person who coined the term Surveillance Capitalism: Shoshana Zuboff. It is her work that we reference so heavily in the Learn section of our site. And her work that we list in the Resources section.

What you can do

Firstly, see the film. Get to a cinema in the next couple of days or set a reminder to check Channel 4 in about a week, when it's likely to be on TV.

Secondly, please share the link to the film's website https://mollyvsthemachines.com/ with as many people as you can. Anyone with children.

Thirdly, you can start your own journey away from Big Tech, by taking part in the Big Tech Walkout:

Alternatively if you don't want the step-by-step programme, and just want to browse the alternatives, visit the Alternatives section of our website.

Finally, you can add your voice to the UK government's three month consultation on social media, that started today. We hope that you will steer the conversation towards "Regulate the platforms, not the public". Or to quote Marc Silver, the film's director, again: "Ban the perpetrator, not the victim".

Footnote - other platforms

Even though this film focuses on Instagram, all the other algorithm-driven platforms are just as bad: Snapchat, Tiktok, Facebook, X, YouTube, WhatsApp. They are all designed to maximise screen time, maximising 'engagement' via any means necessary to boost advertising revenue. They are intentionally designed to prioritise sensational and harmful clickbait over the truth. They are intentionally designed to be addictive. And here's the really creepy bit: under pressure from shareholders to show user growth, they've all pivoted in the last five years to focus on 'the children market'.

The scale is terrifying: billions of 'users' (appropriately a word for drug addicts) having their viewing habits and opinions subtley massaged over time. And increasingly these platforms are deliberately connecting children to predators (see also this story), pushing creepy sensual chatbots on children and allowing CSAM. All to line the pockets of uncaring greedy billionaires.

But guess what: you and your children don't have to use those platforms, there are alternatives.

Rebel Tech Alliance is a non-profit dedicated to getting as many people off big tech products as possible. Why? Because that reduces the surveillance economy, and reducing that is good for individuals and society.