Embed from Getty Images
I watched the first season of Mr. Robot and was so frustrated by some of the plot twists that I didn’t stay for season two. (Without giving too much away, I hate when shows reveal that large plot sections were a dream/otherwise not real.) It was a somewhat fascinating show, with a great cast of characters, a thrilling plot and smart use of technology, although it seemed like a lot of the hacking and dark web stuff was overhyped. Carly Chaikin, 27, plays a young hacker on the show, and you may also known her from the series Suburgatory, which aired from 2011 – 2014. She talked to ET Online about her character, about working with Mr. Robot showrunner Sam Esmail, and about technology as shown on Mr. Robot and in general. I liked what she had to say about social media particularly and wanted to talk about it. Chaikin has a supporting role in a film called People You May Know, about an average guy who fakes a fabulous life online.
On season 3 episode 5 of Mr. Robot, which was one continuous take without commercials
“I just think Sam is so incredible to do something like he did, and USA airing it with no commercials — it took a lot to do that and I think it was so worth it and so unbelievable.”On social media
“I think it is a double-edged-sword. It’s changed our world so much in the way we communicate. It’s everything.“[Social media] has become this platform that allows everyone to stay in each other’s lives and stay connected, but at the same time, in my opinion, it also fully disconnects us and gives us a false sense of intimacy and relationships. It’s a subject matter that really draws me in because I think it is so relevant to our world.”
On not losing herself in a role
“It becomes something I actually have to be conscious of,” she admitted. “At the same time, it’s OK to lose yourself in a role, as long as you make sure to get yourself out of it once it’s done.”“It’s really about the people that you surround yourself with to keep you grounded through that and reflect back to who you actually are.”
I’ve mentioned here that I dislike social media but fear missing out. My friends and I talk on Facebook and that’s where we make plans. (We’re in our 40s, I know younger people use Snapchat, Instagram and other platforms.) It seems like there’s no other option if you want to keep in touch with people and get a group together. I also wonder though, if my friendships become limited to the people who put the effort in on Facebook, and if I’m missing out on connecting with people who aren’t as active online. Then I worry that if I drop out again people will forget about me and I won’t get invited to things. I know it’s somewhat irrational but it’s a concern I have. It’s hard to adjust to social media when you didn’t grow up with it, but it’s probably just as hard for young people as Chaikin mentions. It’s not like the technology is stable at all and yet it’s still shaping our social systems.
I love this outfit!
Embed from Getty Images
This one, not so much but at least she’s taking a risk
Embed from Getty Images
I hear you, CB, on your love-hate of social media. My bigger concern with FB lately is the whole fake news debacle that helped sway the election. So much sneaky propaganda that people are falling for. It’s scary and gross how easily people are taken in by sheer garbage.
Yes exactly. My mom stopped using Facebook for that reason. I don’t want to lose touch with my friends though as I mentioned. I try to limit my use but it’s hard. Facebook is like 5% decent content and the rest crappy filler and misleading junk.
I only “lurk” on FB these days to read up on my little girl [actually 25 and working in DC] During the 2016 election, a childhood friend of my husband’s, and Trump supporter, attacked me for my views on LGBT issues [ ourdaughter is gay] We unfriended the oaf, and that was the end of my posting there. At 65, I have to say the viciousness in social media is astonishing. That’s why I love CB. Fun and snarky, but informative with smart posters!!
Facebook is a way to keep up with people. Sometimes I get sucked into conversations and wonder why I did so AGAIN. It gets nasty and I dislike the posts where they are vague. I think that is what is a big problem – if you have a problem with someone, go directly to them, don’t vague post on FB. Also, I’m not one to share my life completely and it drives me a bit nuts to see people who put every little thing out there – good or bad (I try to put out positive posts and have learned to think twice before I put anything out there). For some people it becomes an attention seeking device – put it out there and see how people react to it and if you get sympathy or not.
I try to limit my use of FB, too, and haven’t posted in ages. But still I’m unable to pull the plug completely…its power over us is scary.
DALIA!!!!
I loved her so much as Dalia. And my god she looks so different in real life.
Love Mr Robot! She is so beautiful 😍
Mr. Robot is fantastic! Those who didn’t stick it through seasons 1 & 2 are missing out on one hell of a ride in season 3.
Everyone! Watch this show…don’t make me ask you twice.
😉
I’m at an age where I simply don’t care lol. I did Facebook for years beginning 2006-7. About four years ago, I had enough. I learned things about friends and acquaintances I didn’t want to know. Am I glad I now know? Not necessarily. I’ve always been a severe cynic, but had hope. Now I’m simply a severe cynic. Everything I always thought I knew are absulutely true, and I’m done with most people. I have a few very close relationships. We relish drinking our beverages and rolling eyes with all things society and culture. Politics has us furiously discarding our patriotism. We’re disgusted with so much and enjoy finding solace in each other… they simply have to text, email or call me lmao. Personally, I’ve been addicted to texting for years..as I’m not really a phone person either :p.
Based on your posts[ which I always enjoy],I would say you are a smart cynic.
Aw that’s the first compliment I’ve had since I don’t know when. If my mom was here, she’d chime in saying she gave birth to little girl with rolling-eye syndrome. I’ve been rolling my eyes into the back of my head for half a century. 😀
Many prayers circles were assembled in living rooms over my ‘disrespect.’ Imagine my delight when the internet took over and solidified my take on life. Another one does, most definitely, bite the dust hee hee.
I didn’t feel like S1 of Mr. Robot had any big surprise reveals. More like confirmations. The most important one especially was something that they never really tried to hide, it was super evident even in the first episode. When it’s finally 100% confirmed the lead even asks us how long we’ve known, making it clear the writers knew it wasn’t a twist for us.
I don’t have FB and as a result the only people I talk to besides my husband and kids are my mom and sister.
I agree about Mr. Robot. I was so frustrated with the plot twists. I really love Christian Slater. He has been my big crush since we were both teenager age. I can’t watch the show any more even though I think it is excellent. I do love the characters.
Carly is so pretty. I love her style. I agree with her about social media. I am in my 40’s and I don’t do Facebook. It just became way too invasive and I got rid of my account. That was close to ten years ago so it might have changed. I really don’t trust it.
I love Instagram and YouTube. That is my exciting social media life. 🙂 I disconnect a lot. My friends tell me all the time that I seem calmer and less stressed than them. They feel like they can’t leave FB, Twitter or Instagram in case they might miss something important. I only check Instagram & YouTube once a day. It will still be there tomorrow.
Carly’s got the kind of voice that throws me off a bit. That said I completely agree with her about social media. I’ve stepped back from it quite a bit and quit Facebook. I kind of miss my friends’ posts, but Facebook’s role in perpetuating fake news, etc. forced me to unplug.
I think she is completely overlooked for her acting. She looks/seems like 3 different people between Suburgatory/Mr.Robot/real life. Love that!
Yes. Exactly this. It fosters a false sense of connection while increasing isolation. It is the death of intimacy in modern society.
Her ideas on social media sound half-baked to me – like she heard how to have it both ways (it connects us, oh whoops, no it doesn’t). “Social media” is revolutionary. Twitter was the backbone of Arab Spring, and is still a huge part of any civil unrest. FB Periscope was used to broadcast from Congress when Paul Ryan shut off all TV coverage. Footage from police body cams is now shown routinely so we can see what really happened. And all of it is used to gather information about us for advertisers and for the CIA. I believe that genuine relationships can start on social media, and they are not any less real than face to face relationships. But I do agree that using social media in the presence of real people – friends, family, classmates – is a big issue, and our social problem solving skills are probably going down the toilet while we use Snapchat as a distraction.
You might be interested in reading Zeynep Tufekci’s fascinating book Twitter and Tear Gas: “Could the ability to organize massive protests quickly on Facebook and Twitter be making those protests vulnerable in the long term? If new technologies are so empowering, why are so many movements failing to curb authoritarianism’s rise? Is a glut of misinformation more effective censorship than directly forbidding speech? Why are so many of today’s movements leaderless?” Social media is changing the world in ways we haven’t begun to address, and can barely think about.
Oh! Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check my library for it.