I think of that episode every time I read something about big tech and their profiling of individuals and applying a score. And now stories the last couple of years of China doing the same thing to its citizens.
This is from an episode of
Black Mirror (Netflix series) named,
Nosedive. I have not watched any episodes of Black Mirror during the last few years due to the language and sexual content. The anthology series is pretty graphic in both regards. Think of an R-Rated
Twilight Zone with a high tech/distopian society descibed in hour long stories.
That being said, this episode is spot on as it portrays a young woman who tries to up her social score in order to open doors to advance her life and career. Of course, all her peers are on the same track. A passive/aggressive rats nest - all trying to gain an advantage over their neighbors but with a plastic, yet friendly smile.
Lacie buys refreshments for her coworkers, who award her "points". A smile in an elevator, more points. Holding a door open for someone, more points. A slip of the tongue, oops, negative points. Finally, a temper tantrum at an airline ticket counter leads to a major violation and her long waited flight to her friend's wedding is canceled (sound familiar? Can't fly because of a low social score?) Another freakout when she attempts to refuel her rental car causes another slide.
Finally, after bulldogging her way cross country to her "friend's" wedding reception (she misses the actual ceremony), she has her final explosion that feels great but has a disastrous outcome. Amidst all the Kens and Barbies sitting around their perfectly-lined plastic tables, with their perfect plastic clothes, and their perfectly-lined plastic smiles, she releases with a full-blown rant that forever seals her social fate. Of course, in her society, that is the same as certain death as survival is impossible without the proper social score.
This episode aired in October of 2016 and before I ever heard any of the chatter about China implementing this program. It's almost like they used this episode as a planning platform. This is from the episode's description ...
A woman desperate to boost her social media score hits the jackpot when she's invited to a swanky wedding, but the trip doesn't go as planned.
I recommend it but with proper filters on if only to gather a glimpse of what can go wrong in a world rules by the
beastly system under development in China. Absolute control!
Netflix's Nosedive