Aaron Sorkin. | Photo credit: DANNY MOLOSHOK
Aaron Sorkin, Oscar-winning writer of, among others, Social networkis working on another film about Facebook that will present the company’s role in the attack on the US Capitol that took place on January 6, 2021.
Sorkin, who presented the founding and early years of Facebook in 2010 Social networksaid the tech giant has since played a major role in keen political polarization in the United States.
“I will write about it. I blame Facebook for January 6,” he said. Sorkin, who also created televisions West wing and movie Chicago Trial 7revealed the emerging project during a live recording City podcast this week.
He accused Mark Zuckerberg – co-founder and CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta – of prioritizing growth at the expense of integrity, despite his already enormous personal wealth.
“Facebook, among other things, is fine-tuning its algorithm to promote as divisive material as possible because that will escalate engagement,” he said. “This will take you to what they call in the halls of Facebook, the “infinite scroll.”
When asked exactly why Facebook was responsible for January 6, he replied: “You’ll have to buy a movie ticket.” Many Americans turn to social media platforms like Facebook to find news.
Tech companies have been accused of both failing to fact-check widely disseminated news – including viral conspiracy theories – and excessively censoring what they show. The hundreds of people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 were motivated by then-President Donald Trump’s false claim that the election was “stolen” from him.
Some cited conspiracy theories such as QAnon. Social networkdirected by David Fincher was a huge commercial and critical success. The film grossed approximately $225 million worldwide and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won three Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Sorkin.
Sorkin has previously floated the idea of a “sequel,” saying Ecstatic Melancholy Confused podcast that he would be interested, provided Fincher agreed to return as director. Fincher told the Guardian last year that he had discussed the project with Sorkin, but warned that delving into Facebook again would be a “can of worms.”
