Aaron Sorkin, the acclaimed screenwriter behind ‘The Social Network‘, has reignited the conversation about social media’s impact on democracy. In a recent interview, Sorkin pointed a sharp finger at Facebook, stating, “I blame Facebook for January 6th.”
His comments come as the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Capitol riots. While social media is known for spreading misinformation not a lot of big names talk about the political consequences of this. So, Sorkin standing by his beliefs is a breath of fresh air.
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Aaron Sorkin Believes The Spread Of Misinformation Through Facebook Led To January 6 Riots
The Oscar-winning screenwriter after talking about working in a sequel to ‘The Social Network’ accused Facebook. “Look, yeah, I’ll be writing about this, I blame Facebook for January 6,” Aaron stated in an interview with ‘The Town’ podcast. However, he did not clarify the reasoning behind why he thought so and stated “You’re going to need to buy a movie ticket” further insinuating an upcoming film.
Sorkin’s accusation isn’t unfounded. Facebook’s algorithm, designed to keep users engaged, has been criticized for creating echo chambers where users are primarily exposed to information that confirms their existing beliefs. This can lead to the spread of misinformation and the radicalization of individuals.
In the lead-up to January 6th, Facebook was rife with conspiracy theories and false claims about the 2020 election. These narratives fueled anger and resentment, creating a breeding ground for the violence that unfolded at the Capitol. Sorkin argues that Facebook’s lax approach to content moderation allowed these harmful narratives to proliferate, ultimately contributing to a real-world attack on American democracy.
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Aaron Sorkin’s Plan For ‘The Social Network’ Sequel
Sorkin’s idea for the sequel for ‘The Social Network’ sounds more like a successor than a sequel. He claimed that the things going on with Facebook in the past few years need another movie. The question regarding whether Facebook should be held responsible for the content it allows to spread on its platform still very much stands.
So, the movie around the topic can be a good idea. Additionally, while talking to the HappySad Podcast, Sorkin mentioned that he would only be willing to go forward with a sequel if director David Fincher is on it. However, it seems as if Fincher is over the movie due to his statement to The Guardian about this. “Aaron and I have talked about it, but, um … that’s a can of worms,” he said.
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