Aaron Sorkin Writing Spiritual Sequel to 'The Social Network' Examining Facebook's Role in January 6 Capitol Attack

Aaron Sorkin, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of 'The Social Network,' has confirmed that he is working on a 'spiritual sequel' to the 2010 film, which will examine Facebook's algorithm and its impact on democracy, particularly the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Sorkin stated that Facebook has been "adjusting its algorithm to highlight the most polarizing content possible" in order to increase engagement and growth, despite the lack of integrity.

The new project will explore how Facebook's algorithm promotes divisive content and how this contributed to the events of January 6. Sorkin openly blames Facebook and its co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg for the insurrection, arguing that the company has prioritized growth over integrity by promoting content that divides people. "Facebook has been adjusting its algorithm to highlight the most polarizing content possible," Sorkin said. "There is a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn't; there's just growth."

While the project is still in the early stages with no studio partner attached yet, Sorkin has previously expressed interest in writing a sequel to 'The Social Network' that would explore the "dark side" of Facebook. However, he has stated that he would only write it if the original film's director, David Fincher, agrees to helm the project. The original film, which starred Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, was a critical and commercial success, and Eisenberg has expressed openness to reprising his role in a potential sequel.

Why this matters: The planned sequel to 'The Social Network' holds significant relevance in light of Facebook's role in shaping public discourse and its influence on political events like the January 6 Capitol attack. As social media platforms face increasing scrutiny for their impact on democracy, Sorkin's film has the potential to shed light on the inner workings and consequences of Facebook's algorithms.

Sorkin's upcoming film will delve deeper into the "dark side" of Facebook and its influence on American culture and politics in the years since 'The Social Network' was released. The project marks Sorkin's return to exploring the digital chaos and controversies surrounding social media platforms, building on the themes and success of the original film. "The Social Network was a story about how the 19-year-old Mark Zuckerberg took this idea of a Facebook and turned it into a global behemoth," Sorkin said. "This story is going to be about what happened afterwards, and the damage that has been done."

Key Takeaways

• Aaron Sorkin confirms working on 'spiritual sequel' to 'The Social Network'.
• Sequel to examine Facebook's algorithm and its impact on democracy, Jan 6 attack.
• Sorkin blames Facebook for prioritizing growth over integrity, promoting divisive content.
• Sequel to explore 'dark side' of Facebook, if director David Fincher agrees to helm.
• Sequel holds relevance amid scrutiny over social media's impact on democracy.