FILM: The Social Network

The Social Network: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake

FACEBOOK, everyone knows about it and most people use it. Whether or not you have one, you’re bound to know what it is. But how did ONE social network get so popular? The Social Network works around the two law-suits that Mark Zuckerberg had to face when Facebook became one of the biggest social networks running online. Fighting against the people who claim that Facebook was their idea and his own best friend, who felt he was cheated out of his rights.

THIS IS A MUST SEE! Who knew that the phrase, “Facebook me” would mean so much just seven years after its creation? Who knew that the idea of being “exclusive” would cost 27 billion dollars down the track? But the question is, “Is Facebook just another great idea, or is it the epitome of or social standing today?” That question is what this film is trying to answer. I love it when Mark says, “The (twins) are suing me because for the first time in their lives, things aren’t going their way.” Paying off 65 million dollars for a suggestion that turned into the biggest thing seven years after it was spoken about is one half storyline of this film. The other half is about trust, loyalty and friendship; wrapped in this story of “who’s right” and “who owes who recognition” (and money) is a story about self-definition.

Today, Mark Zuckerberg is known as the youngest billionaire in this world, but this movie traces out the codes that brought life to Facebook. Behind all the attitude and all the computer lingo, Mark was just look for something that would get him in – in with the cool kids, in with the cool parties and in with the right girls. Taking the idea of exclusivity, what Mark was able to re-create was the social structure of universities in the US – only the elite were invited to the most prestigious houses and clubs; only the cool kids got the great recognitions; and all those who could afford were walking targets because they were also walking ATMs. That’s the second half of the storyline, behind the cool new updates and statuses, Facebook is just another way to highlight the haves and the have-nots.

It makes you think huh? Facebook is part of us that we don’t even consider how it began. All we know is that it’s there and it’s useful. Walking out of that movie, it made me think, “What would happen if one by one, people stopped using Facebook and all those other internet sites? What would happen to people like Mark Zuckerberg? What would they do with their billions?” I even seriously thought about deleting my Facebook page (which would probably cut down my internet usage). But that movie really made me think. It’s not about who’s idea it was, which is probably why he was happy to pay the 65 million, because let’s face it, the idea of having social networks to be exclusive is really nothing new; it’s about re­-creating life and halving the unwritten rules of society written. Like the Ericka character said, “Things on the internet aren’t written in the air, they’re written in ink.” – Which probably where the “HIDE” option originated from – but it’s the truth. (I love the fact that every application has a story.) When you watch this film consider these three things:

1. How often do you use Facebook?
2. What do you use it for?
3. Why do you use it in the first place?

sL star rating: 5 stars

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