I watched The Social Reckoning and i knew from the start that The Social Reckoning would change the way people view social media,We spend hours on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms without considering what occurs behind the scenes, we go online to connect with friends obtain information laugh, argue and share our lives.. what if the very platforms we love are prioritising other interests over our safety? That is one of the questions that The Social Reckoning explores.
The Social Reckoning is a sequel to The Social Network and is written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Social Reckoning stars Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen, Jeremy Allen White as journalist Jeff Horwitz and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, the Social Reckoning is inspired by events involving the Facebook whistleblower and internal documents that revealed concerns about Facebook’s practices.
The Social Reckoning opens in 2019 when Frances Haugen joins Facebook’s Civic Integrity team, at first, Frances believes in Facebook’s mission to connect people, that sounds positive, however as Frances settles into her role , she notices details, she discovers that Facebook appears focused on keeping users engaged and generating revenue than on addressing the harm that Facebook’s platform can cause.
Imagine working for a company you trust only to find that the leaders may not care about users much as you believed that is the position Frances finds herself in.
Things become more complicated when Teddy Marks, Facebook’s media relations executive informs employees about journalists attempting to obtain company information, Frances tries to raise her concerns but Frances struggles to get people to take her seriously, her colleagues do not rush to support her.
, and when sje realizes that speaking up may not be as simple as Frances imagined.
This is where journalist Jeff Horwitz enters the story, Jeff works for The Wall Street Journal, begins investigating Facebook’s influence on society, when Jeff meets Frances Frances faces a decision, should Frances remain silent and protect her job or should Frances risk everything to expose what Frances believes the public deserves to know?
Frances eventually shares documents with Jeff helping Jeff investigate Facebook’s practices, tlheir work produces a series of reports known as the Facebook Files, however exposing a technology company is not without consequences, she worries about her career, her safety and the possibility of being identified as the leaker.
As the story moves into 2021 the pressure grows, Mark Zuckerberg and his team prepare to face questions from lawmakers about Facebook’s influence, content moderation, political information and user safety. Frances eventually decides to seek whistleblower protection and to testify before the Senate.....
For me the interesting aspect of The Social Reckoning is that The Social Reckoning is not solely about Facebook, The Social Reckoning shows what occurs when money, power and public responsibility collide social media can be useful, companies should not ignore the consequences of their decisions simply because people keep clicking, scrolling and sharing.
I also appreciate the idea of Frances as an employee who decides that staying silent is no longer an option. This reminds us that sometimes the person who exposes a problem is not the top executive but someone working quietly behind the scenes.
Overall The Social Reckoning feels like a thought‑provoking thriller with an important message, The Social Reckoning may not be the type of movie that everyone watches for entertainment but it gives viewers plenty to think about, and at the end of the day connecting people is good, What is the point of connection if the people, behind the platform are notl taking our wellbeing seriously?
Rating: 60/100