When given the assignment to watch the movie “The Circle” (2017) with Tom Hanks and Emma Watson and think about tech ethics, what would you do? Our talented Grade 9 student and scholarship winner Bisera Drndar was inspired to write an outstanding essay as part of this IT project and we admire what she came up with. Her dedication, creativity and critical thinking shone through, earning her top marks and inspiring everyone around her.
Read the essay:
Tech Ethics in The Circle: When Innovation Crosses the Line
Watching The Circle recently was honestly a really eye-opening experience for me. I had seen the movie a few years ago when I was younger, and even then, it made me think. This time, though, now that I’ve grown, formed opinions, and learned so much more about technology and the world around me, it hit completely differently. The movie actually helped structure a lot of thoughts I’ve been having lately about technology and its place in our lives. It’s a topic that has been occupying my mind a lot, and seeing it played out in a story made everything feel even more real, and honestly, a little concerning.
Even though I’m endlessly passionate about technology and innovation, ethics is something I deeply value. I believe that without strong ethics guiding the development and use of technology, even the best ideas can end up doing more harm than good. While watching The Circle, I was shocked by how easily big companies could sell ‘progress’ while crossing ethical lines and quietly taking away privacy, freedom, and individuality.
What really dawned on me was how close some of the events in the movie feel to what’s already happening in the real world. The pressure to share every detail of your life online, the way social media encourages constant connection, and the belief that “if you’re not sharing, you’re hiding something” — these ideas aren’t science fiction anymore. They’re already creeping into our everyday lives. Social media platforms have built powerful algorithms to compete for our attention, making it harder to disconnect and erasing the boundary between real connection and digital addiction. Watching The Circle made me worry because, even though technology is supposed to fulfill and improve our lives, it often feels like it’s consuming them instead.
In the past few years, I’ve watched other documentaries like The Social Dilemma that talk about similar ideas, and every time, I come away feeling more convinced that we need to talk about tech ethics more openly, especially with young people. We’re the future, and if we don’t think critically about these issues now, we might end up living in a world where people have forgotten how to truly live their lives offline. We are the future leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, and if we are not taught to value privacy, freedom, and humanity, then we risk building a world where convenience and progress come at the cost of our very identities. It’s like the line between public and private is getting more and more blurry, and no one’s stopping to ask if that’s really a good thing.
One part of the movie that especially stood out to me was how innovation was used to justify control and surveillance. Ideas like “sharing is caring” and “secrets are lies” were presented in a way that made them seem positive at first, but underneath, they were taking away personal freedom. It was scary how easy it was for the characters and even the public, to accept that loss of freedom because it was disguised as advancement. It made me realize how important it is to stay alert and not get carried away by the excitement of new technology without thinking about the bigger picture. What really got my attention was the surveillance. While it could offer safety, it creates a constant feeling of being watched, stripping away personal freedom and privacy. I’m torn because, although it might provide protection, it comes at the cost of privacy. Data collection can be a powerful tool for progress if done responsibly, with clear consent and strict control over how that data is used and protected.
Technology is incredible, and I’ll always be excited about innovation. But movies like The Circle remind me that not everything that can be done should be done. Ethics has to lead innovation, not follow behind it trying to clean up the mess. Otherwise, we risk building a future that’s shiny on the outside but hollow inside.
Finally, I just want to say thank you for assigning this movie. Watching it again after so many years felt really good. It gave me a chance to reflect, to see how much my thinking has grown, and to realize how deeply I care about these issues. It’s a conversation that’s more important now than ever, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity to explore it in such a meaningful way.
Bisera Drndar
