The Social Network Reflection
The Social Network tells how Marc Zuckerberg creates Facebook and faces the betrayal of the friendship after his huge success. Different form other biographies of the celebrity, The Social Network involves more controversial elements specially for such a digital era, such as the privacy or the proprietary right of the Facebook.
In the beginning of the film, the talent of Marc is presented in a ridiculous way, from his extremely fast speaking speed and the offensive conversation with his girlfriend. Furthermore, we notice his transcendental spirit from the fact that breaking up with his girlfriend induces not a bitter crying, yet a social website that breaks the record. Facemash becomes the first step of Marc and he then get the idea of a university-based social network website from the Winklevoss brothers. Then comes the first controversy. Does the one who has the idea or the one who finally makes it happen owns the Facebook? Marc, indeed, at least borrows some of the originality form the Winklevoss brothers, but, as he insists, he never “stole any code” from them. In such a fast-consuming era, speed is the only rule. “The first” who carries an idea into the reality earns the most attention, the most money and everything. The others receive nothing but the name of plagiarism and boring repetition. Today, the world asks for not only the cool ideas but also the capacity of realizing them.
Another thing that I feel interesting about the film is the privacy aspect of the Facebook showed in the film. When Facemash first appears, the humiliation felt by the girls forms a strong contrast to the excitement of the boys. The paper tape with “U Dick”, passing to Marc on the CS class, further alerts me that how digital media hurts people’s privacy with its fast disseminating speed and the blurry authenticity. As long as one posts the information on a digital platform, the aftermath is beyond anyone’s control. This point is further proven in an amusing way when Eduardo’s girlfriend questions him about his “single” state on his Facebook page. Containing too much information, social networking media becomes the most important force that shapes one’s figure in other’s eyes nowadays. However, whether the figure is true demand deep consideration. The information there may be false or simple forgotten to be updated by the owners.
In all, The Social Network not only shows the success of Marc Zuckerberg but also presents the controversial traits of social networking media nowadays, taking Facebook as a crucial example.
