One of the most intriguing films this summer is "Nerve." Starring Emma Roberts and Dave Franco, it is a story of what a tempting yet dangerous app can cause in terms of drama and danger. Self-described as “truth or dare, without the truth,” users of the app have the option to either complete dares for money at escalating difficulties or watch and film their favorite players performing said dares, which they get to pick. Without revealing too much from the movie, I will explain the three major takeaways from this film. That being said, it is possible that these lessons could inadvertently spoil some aspects of the film in some way, so if you are afraid of spoilers I suggest you stop reading after I recommend to everyone that you see this movie.

1. It Is Never OK to Peer Pressure Anyone into Doing Anything

I’m not talking about something small like giving in to your friend's constant begging to download Pokemon Go or buy that dress they felt looked good on you. I’m talking more along the lines of a serious risk of safety or comfort that could range from physical to emotional. From high school to even adulthood so-called “friends” think it is OK to bully or manipulate others into doing things they don’t want to do. Whether it’s forcing someone to ask someone out or say yes to an offer to date, trying some sort of risky stunt, or experiment with smoking, alcohol, or drugs, some people get the idea that it’s OK to bully someone into doing something they are uncomfortable doing. Newsflash: It isn’t. And while that is obvious to most of us, it is still not obvious for a lot of people and that is pathetic. Peer pressure is a driving force in the narrative of this movie. It plays a role in Vee Belmonico (Emma Roberts’s character) downloading and participating in Nerve, and the threat of losing your winnings from the app as well as your reputation should you fail or quit motivates many of the app’s participants to keep going even when the dares escalate to seriously hazardous feats.

2. If Obtaining Fame via Social Media Is Your Goal, You Need to Reevaluate Your Priorities

Vee’s friend Sydney (Emily Meade) participated in Nerve before Vee did and for very different reasons. Her goal is not only to win money but to become famous on social media, which would be made possible due to her impressive performances in the tasks Nerve assigned her. Ever since the newer wave of social media websites headlined by Twitter and Instagram became popular, it allowed people who weren’t getting millions of views on their YouTube videos to obtain fame through different types of content, often simpler such as shorter clips, pictures, memes, modeling and so on. This newfound access to fame has motivated people to do whatever they can to get others' attention as well as more followers to retain that attention. However, these pseudo-celebrities will end up facing the same issues of instant judgment and lack of privacy that the more standard brand of celebrities (actors/actresses, athletes, etc.) have to deal with, and it takes its toll. Your followers or fans are not the same as your friends. The moment you fail or screw up in some way, they will all turn against you. That’s not to say they won’t unfollow you, but everyone will know, and just like that you go from famous to infamous. Whenever people seek these vain luxuries those replace valuable aspects of your life such as your real friends, family, goals, and obligations. Is that really a tradeoff you wish to make?

3. It Is Morally and Legally Wrong to See Something Bad Happen and Say Nothing About It

So you may be thinking, “OK, this app is dangerous. If it was real I would not compete in those dares, but I would probably still be curious enough to watch other people do them.” Does that sound about right? A guilt-free solution to get your fix of the thrill that such an app would provide? Let me put it this way: If you see someone beat another defenseless person up and you just watch and don’t tell anyone or help, does that make you less guilty or responsible for the incident? In my opinion, you’re less responsible than the person who committed that act, but you’re still responsible. So while participating in the dares of Nerve is not a good idea, neither is watching other people doing those dares, especially the risky ones, which, according to the film, included driving a motorcycle blindfolded and lying down on train tracks as a train passed by. A good friend, citizen, or person would not allow other people to do anything that risks their health or life. It is important to not think along the lines of “snitches get stitches” and worry more about doing the right thing.

Ultimately this movie points out quite a few flaws in our society today, particularly in how dominant technology and social media have become in it. It is important to prime these lessons so that when you come across some of these moral dilemmas in your life, you’ll respond in the appropriate fashion. Don’t let yourself fade into the majority that convinces you to stay silent when an injustice is going on.