Aaron Sorkin's new film, "The Social Reckoning," examines the consequences of Facebook's evolution through the experiences of whistleblower Frances Haugen. Haugen, a former Facebook employee, leaked internal documents to the Wall Street Journal, alleging that the company's algorithms amplified political division and that platforms like Instagram negatively impacted teenage girls' body image. The film stars Mikey Madison, who recently received an Oscar for her role in "Anora," as Haugen.
Madison, who did not have a personal relationship with social media, researched Haugen and her memoir to prepare for the role. "I don’t have a personal relationship with social media at all," Madison stated. "It’s just something that never quite stuck." Haugen first connected with Sorkin shortly after coming forward as a whistleblower. "He wanted to figure out if it was possible to do a companion piece to The Social Network," Haugen recalled. Sorkin's script for "The Social Reckoning" was heavily annotated by Haugen.
Preparing for Sorkin's signature fast-paced dialogue proved challenging for Madison. "I don’t know if much can prepare you for that," she said. "I’m not someone who naturally speaks in that rhythmic way." Haugen noted that the rapid delivery captured the intensity of her investigative work. "There’s a fidelity to it," Haugen commented. "Jeff [Horwitz] and I are both chatty people who talk quickly, so you do capture the excitement of when we were in the weeds."
Mystery surrounds the extent to which Jeremy Strong, portraying Mark Zuckerberg, employed method acting techniques on set, including self-isolation. Madison reported having limited interaction with Strong during filming.
Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, recently reached an $18 billion settlement in August to resolve a multi-state lawsuit alleging that the company's platforms had negatively impacted teen mental health. Meta did not admit to any wrongdoing.
Haugen indicated that this settlement is only the beginning, with further legal actions from school districts and individuals expected to result in significantly larger financial resolutions. "The school districts are bringing very large suits, which I’m expecting to have dollar values north of $100 billion, maybe $200 billion," she explained. Haugen suggested that Zuckerberg's control over Meta, combined with prolonged isolation, may have distorted his priorities. "I think he’s just been isolated for so long it’s distorted his priorities," she stated.
Haugen believes that capitalism and user well-being are not mutually exclusive. She argued that Meta's focus on short-term gains led to a decline in user engagement. "Governance helps businesses make choices that optimize for the long term, which actually makes them more profitable long-term," Haugen said. Regarding artificial intelligence, Haugen expressed hope that further "scary incidents" might prompt more sensible regulations.
Haugen also reflected on a near-death experience prior to her time at Facebook, which she believes altered her risk assessment. "I went from someone who could ride 125 miles a day on a bike to being in a wheelchair in two and a half years," she recounted. While this experience was not a central focus in the film, Haugen acknowledged Sorkin's artistic choices in prioritizing elements that offered insight into Facebook's operations and Zuckerberg's leadership.
When asked if Zuckerberg would watch the film, Haugen expressed her hope that he would. "My hope is that he watches the movie and sees Jeremy Strong’s performance and asks himself, ‘Do I want to be living this life? Is this the legacy that I want?’ Because sometimes you can’t see it in the mirror until art reflects it."