Aaron Sorkin Announces ‘The Social Network’ Sequel Spotlighting Facebook’s Role in Political Turmoil

Sorkin Strikes Back: The Sequel to ‘The Social Network’ Will Address Facebook’s Complicity in Capitol Riot

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Summary

• Aaron Sorkin, the writer of “The Social Network,” is developing a sequel that examines Facebook’s role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
• Sorkin aims to highlight the company’s contribution to the US political divide.
• He holds Facebook accountable for the event and criticized CEO Mark Zuckerberg for prioritizing company growth over ethics.
• Sorkin mentioned the movie during a podcast recording and suggested that watching it would provide a deeper understanding.
• Facebook, along with other social media platforms, has faced criticism for spreading false information.
• The Capitol breach was fueled by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud.

Aaron Sorkin, the acclaimed writer behind the Oscar-winning “The Social Network,” is currently developing a sequel that will scrutinize Facebook’s involvement in the events leading to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Sorkin, renowned for capturing the essence of Facebook’s origins and its tumultuous early days, aims to shed light on the company’s significant contribution to the US’s escalating political divide since those times.

“I’ll be focusing on this topic because I hold Facebook accountable for what happened on January 6,” Sorkin remarked.

Best known for his work on television with “The West Wing” and in film with “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” Sorkin disclosed the initial stages of his new project during a recording of “The Town” podcast. He openly criticized Facebook’s co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, for choosing company growth over ethical integrity despite his vast fortune.

Sorkin pointed out, “Facebook, by optimizing its algorithm for maximum divisiveness, essentially aims to heighten user engagement.”

He provocatively added, “To fully understand why Facebook had a part in that day, you’d have to watch the movie.”

Facebook, among other social media giants, has been a go-to source for news for countless Americans, amidst accusations against these platforms for either inadequately verifying the authenticity of widely circulated news, including conspiracy theories, or for overly censoring content.

The January 6th Capitol breach was fueled by former President Donald Trump’s unfounded allegations of a stolen election, with many rioters influenced by conspiracy theories like QAnon.

“The Social Network,” directed by David Fincher and celebrated both critically and commercially, raked in roughly $225 million worldwide. It was a contender for eight Oscars, securing three, including best adapted screenplay for Sorkin.

Sorkin, who has previously toyed with the idea of a sequel, stated his interest contingent on Fincher’s return as director. Last year, Fincher acknowledged discussions about revisiting the Facebook saga with Sorkin but cautioned that it would open “a can of worms.”