Award-winning screenwriter and director Aaron Sorkin has placed the blame for the January 6, 2021 insurrection on the Capitol squarely on Facebook, accusing the social media platform of promoting divisive content to boost engagement.
During a recent appearance on “The Town” podcast, Sorkin hinted at a possible sequel to his hit film “The Social Network”, which explored the founding of Facebook. He revealed that he had previously written a script about the January 6 insurrection that was ultimately shelved, but now he is taking a new approach to the story.
Sorkin expressed his desire to shine a light on the dark side of Facebook and reveal how the platform has contributed to the rise of right-wing extremism. He believes that the company’s algorithm prioritizes engagement over the spread of factual information, ultimately leading to events like the attack on the Capitol.
Despite his enthusiasm for the project, Sorkin has faced challenges in getting it off the ground. He has expressed his preference for David Fincher to return as director for any potential follow-up film, but Fincher has reportedly described the project as a “can of worms”.
As the debate over the role of social media in shaping public discourse continues, Sorkin’s willingness to take on a controversial topic like the January 6 insurrection in a sequel to “The Social Network” is sure to spark further discussion and interest in the project.
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