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The Social Reckoning Earns Praise for Acting, Falls Short Overall
The Social Reckoning is a movie about Facebook and concerns that its choices helped spread harmful information.
It follows Frances Haugen, a worker who shared inside information, and a reporter who used her leaks.
Another part shows Mark Zuckerberg getting ready to answer questions from Congress.
The story takes place between 2019 and 2021.
The reviewer says the actors do a good job, especially Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong.
But the reviewer thinks the movie talks too much and does not hold attention as well as The Social Network.
The film also does not fully explore some of the larger dangers the reviewer says social media can pose.
Overall, the review calls it passable, but says it could have been much better.
Aaron Sorkin's sequel follows Facebook from 2019 to 2021, focusing on whistleblower Frances Haugen and reporting based on her leaks.
The film portrays allegations that Facebook's algorithms amplified misinformation, hate and radicalisation while the company pursued engagement.
A parallel storyline follows Mark Zuckerberg's preparations to testify before a congressional committee and efforts to manage public scrutiny.
The review praises performances by Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong, as well as several supporting actors.
The reviewer finds the film well-crafted but weighed down by excessive dialogue and less compelling than The Social Network.
- Who
- The film follows whistleblower Frances Haugen, reporter Jeff Horwitz and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
- What
- The Social Reckoning dramatizes allegations about Facebook's algorithms and Zuckerberg's preparations for a congressional hearing.
- Where
- The story is set in the United States; it includes the January 6 Capitol attack and a congressional hearing.
- When
- The story moves between 2019 and 2021.
- Why
- The film examines allegations that Facebook's pursuit of engagement helped spread misinformation, hate and radicalisation.
Key facts
- Film
- The Social Reckoning
- Writer-director
- Aaron Sorkin
- Story period
- 2019–2021
- Whistleblower
- Frances Haugen
- Reporter
- Jeff Horwitz, whose reporting was aided by Haugen's leaks
- Review assessment
- Well-crafted and well-acted, but less compelling than The Social Network
Sources
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