From Virtual to Reality: The Dangers of Technology Addiction as Portrayed in Black Mirror

In the Episode "Be right Back" in the series Black Mirror is, like many other episodes in the series, a dystopian exaggeration of our future. However, despite all the symbols and exaggerations that fiction presents, I believe it shows a reality that is not so alien to the present. It is true that it is hard to believe in the possibility of creating a humanoid from our social media profiles and internet searches, but, if we analyze it deeply, the truth is that observing the path that virtual social relationships are taking at the moment, makes the idea not entirely implausible or distant from current reality, as the trail we leave on social networks is huge. Honestly, I do not know who knows me better, myself or Google's memory, for example.

A software capable of creating clones is the most dystopian part shown in the episode, but it also delves into a sensitive topic that society is currently experiencing: Internet addiction, which is shown through Ash's relationship with his phone, where he constantly posts and pays more attention to the screen than to his partner.

Cyber addiction exists and is currently a mental illness that is treated in specialized clinics. Although it may sound like a conspiracy theory, it is real. It is so real that we feel more codependent on smartphones and anxious when we spend time without a connection. But why do we feel the need to spend so many hours daily in front of these screens? And is it possible that so many hours in front of screens affect our ways of relating to others? In response to the first question, smartphones are designed to keep us hooked, as the longer our gaze is on the screens, the more corporations that created them are enriched. In the end, it's all a money game. Marazzi (2018) talks about the attention economy, which is based on the fact that the business behind digital apps is to develop strategies to keep our attention anchored for the longest possible time, where its main way of achieving this is through social validation.

Every time we receive a like, our body releases dopamine. No button like Facebook's

"like" or Twitter's "retweets" are innocent tools, they are tactics of "social reward" that affect our brain and increase the feeling of happiness, so we want more likes. However, the search for social approval has always existed because it is an inherently human need. The only difference is that now with social networks we can systematically measure social approval through likes.

While the idea of creating a human clone from our online presence may seem far-fetched, the truth is that our virtual social dynamics are heading in that direction. With the amount of information we leave behind on the internet, it's not hard to imagine that one day it could become a reality. We are already codependent on our smartphones and feel anxious without constant connection. The episode delves into the idea that smartphones are designed to keep us hooked, as the longer we spend looking at screens, the more money the corporations behind them make.

Not only do smartphones keep us hooked, but they also have a significant impact on our

relationships. We are now able to measure social approval through likes and retweets, leading to an increase in dopamine every time we receive a notification. The endless pursuit of social validation has always been present in human society, but now with social media, it has taken on a more systematic form.

The episode serves as a reminder that we need to be mindful of our relationship with technology and the amount of time we spend looking at screens. While technology has brought many benefits to our lives, it is important to remember that it also has its downsides, and we must find a balance. In conclusion, "Be Right Back" highlights the dangers of our increasing dependence on technology and the impact it has on our relationships.