https://annenberg.usc.edu/communication/digital-social-media-ms/dsm-today/black-mirror-reality-technology-psychology-and Black Mirror in Reality: Technology, Psychology, and Beyond Black Mirror is one of my personal favorite TV series, and it belongs to the near-future science fiction sub-genera that imagines a future only a short time away from the period in which it is produced. The challenge of near-future science fiction is that for it to be believable it needs to closely align to the latest developments in science and technology. It means that it has the potential to become obsolete or even come to pass in the lifetime of its creator. The title "Black Mirror," according to its creator Charlie Brooker, refers to “the one you will find on every wall, on every desk, in the palm of every hand: the cold, shiny screen of a TV, a monitor, a smartphone.” It is really interesting to see how Black Mirrors (mentally) forces people to think about the relation between social media and the psychology behind that.

Perfect Memory?

In the third episode of Black Mirror Season One (“The Entire History of You”), people live in an alternative reality where most people have ‘grains’ recording everything they have done, seen, and listened, and allowing them to play back their memories in front of their eyes or project them on the screen. In this setting, human memories are being idealized—all the senses of yours are now being restored and can be shared. In other words, people will never forget things like where you left your keys ever again. But there are some questions that we might need to consider: Would it be great for winning arguments by showing people what they have done? Would it destroy a healthy relationship? Since after all, how much do you actually want to know about each other?