Aaron Sorkin has criticised Facebook as “completely out of control”, arguing that its influence on public understanding has become dangerous because so many people use it for news. Speaking while promoting his forthcoming film The Social Reckoning, he said the platform had moved far beyond co-founder Mark Zuckerberg’s original intentions and suggested its algorithmic choices helped foster the conditions behind the US Capitol attack of 6 January 2021.

Sorkin said Facebook adjusted its algorithm in 2018 amid falling engagement and competition from TikTok, knowingly prioritising material likely to provoke anger and be reshared. He cited research indicating that 38% of US adults get news from Facebook; the new film dramatises whistleblower Frances Haugen’s work with Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz to expose the company’s internal practices. Jeremy Strong plays Zuckerberg in the sequel to 2010’s The Social Network, replacing Jesse Eisenberg.