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Nosedive English

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liliankadokalih
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38 views2 pages

Nosedive English

Uploaded by

liliankadokalih
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The "Nosedive" episode from Black Mirror (Season 3, Episode 1) is a really eye-opening story about

how social media and ratings can mess with our minds and society. The main character, Lacie Pound,
shows what can happen when people’s worth is judged by a number, just like how people today care
about likes and followers.

Social Validation and Identity Lacie's whole sense of self-worth is tied to her rating in this scary
world. Everyone is obsessed with their ratings because it affects everything—from where they live to
their jobs and friendships. The higher your rating, the better your life is.

Concrete Example: Lacie’s Obsession Lacie is fixated on raising her 4.2 rating to a 4.5 so she can get a
nicer apartment and have a better social standing. She carefully plans every interaction, from her
social media posts to real-life conversations, just to get positive feedback. She even practices smiling
and small talk to be more likable. This shows how people today manage their lives on social media
for likes and followers.

Social Pressure and Conformity In Lacie’s world, everyone is under huge pressure to fit in and get
good ratings. People’s interactions become shallow and fake because they’re only focused on getting
better ratings.

Concrete Example: Lacie’s Journey to Naomi’s Wedding Lacie gets a chance to boost her rating by
attending her old friend Naomi’s wedding, who has a high rating. Lacie doesn’t go because she
genuinely wants to reconnect but because Naomi wants her there to make her wedding look better.
Lacie’s willingness to go through so much to attend the wedding shows how people will sacrifice real
friendships to meet social expectations and get approval.

Psychological Impact of the Ratings System As Lacie tries harder to improve her rating, her mental
health starts to crumble. She gets stressed, anxious, and eventually has a breakdown. This is similar
to how social media addiction and worry about online image can affect people’s mental health
today.

Concrete Example: Lacie’s Breakdown Lacie’s rating drops after a series of bad events, like a bad
interaction at the airport and a failed hitchhiking attempt. As her rating falls, she becomes more and
more unstable. Her breakdown during the wedding speech, where she loses control and screams,
shows how living in a world where your worth is based on ratings can lead to losing your sense of
self.

Class Division and Discrimination The rating system in "Nosedive" creates a strict class system where
people with higher ratings get better access to everything—jobs, housing, and social circles. Lacie’s
struggle to raise her status reflects how class divisions work in real life, where wealth and social
standing often control people’s opportunities.
Concrete Example: Lacie’s Decline As Lacie’s rating drops, she faces more and more discrimination.
Her low rating stops her from renting a car, flying, or even being treated with basic respect. She’s
seen as less important because of her score, showing how the system dehumanizes people who
don’t meet the rating standard. This is similar to how people can be marginalized in real life based
on social media reputation or credit scores.

Authenticity and Liberation By the end of the episode, Lacie loses her rating and finally feels free. In
prison, without a rating, she can be herself and express her true emotions.

Concrete Example: Lacie’s Final Scene In the last scene, Lacie is in a cell but talks openly and honestly
with another prisoner. She’s finally free from worrying about her rating and can express real
feelings. This moment shows that when we stop chasing approval through ratings, we can be our
true selves and feel liberated.

Conclusion: A Warning for the Digital Age "Nosedive" is a powerful story about how social media and
ratings can affect our identity, mental health, and society. Lacie’s experience shows the dangers of
basing our worth on others’ approval and living in a system where our social status controls our
opportunities. It criticizes the shallow and fragile nature of social hierarchies and highlights the
mental toll of trying to meet unrealistic standards. The episode warns us about the dehumanizing
effects of a culture obsessed with appearance and approval, which reflects the challenges of living in
today’s social media-driven world.

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