the-problem
Explanation
The Joke
A disheveled, wild-haired man rants about wanting a social network that is "smart enough to put a food item into my mouth just as I realize that I want it" but which "also doesn't collect any personal data." He asks, "Is that too much to ask?" The caption below reads: "Just because they're the problem, doesn't mean we aren't."
The comic highlights the fundamental contradiction in how many people approach technology companies and privacy: they want incredibly personalized, even mind-reading levels of service, while simultaneously demanding zero data collection.
The Humor
The humor lies in the character's complete lack of self-awareness about the impossibility of his demand. A service that anticipates your desires before you consciously express them would, by definition, require the most invasive data collection imaginable. The caption drives the point home by acknowledging that while tech companies are indeed problematic in their data practices, consumers are also part of the problem because they want contradictory things -- maximum personalization with zero privacy trade-offs. The wild, unkempt appearance of the character adds to the comedy, evoking the archetype of someone ranting about technology while being utterly dependent on it.