15 Years On, The Social Network Feels Like The Warning We All Ignored

The Social Network celebrated its 15th anniversary on October 1, and the movie served as a significant indicator of events that would change the world since its original release. Directed by David Fincher, the film chronicles the origins of Facebook, focusing specifically on co-creator Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg

However, while The Social Network seemed like a look at the people who built a social media giant, it was a lot more than that. What many people missed at the time was that this was a movie that showed how the world was about to change for the worse. If anything, The Social Network showed how social media would alter the course of history.

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in front of a computer in The Social Network

When The Social Network came out, it was highly praised, and for good reason. The Social Network examined an entire generation and showed how the youth of that time could change the course of the world. Not only that, but it also showed how they never learned the lessons of their predecessors.

Jesse Eisenberg was at the top of his game when he took on the role of Mark Zuckerberg, the man who helped co-create Facebook. Andrew Garfield was just as good in his role as Eduardo Saverin, the man who helped create the social media giant, only to find Zuckerberg shutting him out in the end.

The Social Network earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Jesse Eisenberg, and Best Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. Of those four nominations, only Sorkin won, although the film also won an editing award and an Oscar for the music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

It remains a fan-favorite, and film professionals listed it as the 10th best movie of the 21st century in a New York Times poll. There is even a sequel to The Social Network in the works, although only Sorkin is returning, and he will also direct it. The film, тιтled The Social Reckoning, will feature Jeremy Strong as Zuckerberg.

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network

One thing that helps The Social Network remain as popular today as it was when it was released 15 years ago is that the movie’s themes are even more relevant in 2025. When the film came out, Facebook was primarily a platform where friends and family could stay in touch and keep up with each other.

However, the 2010s caused a shift in this dynamic, and the platform became a social service where people spread fake news and propaganda that had the opposite effect. Instead of keeping families in touch, it drove families and friends apart. It also had a mᴀssive impact on national politics and social issues.

David Fincher’s movie didn’t foresee Facebook destroying families and lifelong friendships, or having a hand in the release of misinformation and outright lies, which helped shatter a broken society’s trust. However, the movie was about disrupting the establishment, which is what led to these events.

It was resentment and insecurity that led to the creation of Facebook, and these emotions ultimately contributed to the destruction of friendships and relationships in the movie. When Zuckerberg’s girlfriend dumped him in the film, he sought a way to regain control. That sounds very familiar in today’s world of fragile egos.

These fragile egos have done nothing today but push others down and force their way to the top, even when they don’t deserve it. This is what The Social Network was all about, as Mark Zuckerberg, in the movie, was a precursor to what happened in the next 15 years, and much of it was thanks to social media.

Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) with a thin smile in The Social Network

The Social Network was just a movie, but it still had a significant impact on the tech industry and real life. The film showcased the rise of Facebook and social media, as well as the fall of former networks like MySpace and Napster. Ultimately, many credit the movie with the rise of young entrepreneurs in the tech industry.

Mark Zuckerberg himself told Mashable at the time that he was interested in seeing what effect The Social Network had on young entrepreneurs wanting to build their own empires. According to Bootcamp, the co-founders of Wall Street Magnate started a fantasy trading community after watching the movie.

It was similar to how Top Gun led to a considerable number of sign-ups for military service in the 1980s. The Social Network helped lead to the rise of young entrepreneurs deciding to take their future into their own hands. With Zuckerberg as the “villain” in the movie, this was a fascinating fallout.

Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss Twins sitting at a table in The Social Network.

While The Social Network celebrated its 15th anniversary on October 1, there is a sequel in the works. However, while the first film focused on building the company and influencing an entire generation of entrepreneurs, the follow-up is not really a Social Network sequel, although it is set squarely in the world of Facebook.

Instead of showcasing the rise of social media, the Aaron Sorkin sequel will focus on “The Facebook Files,” which was released in 2021 and revealed the harmful effects of social media on teens and the spread of misinformation. Although not a sequel, the movie will explore the same basic themes as the original.

The Social Network was a masterpiece when it was released, and it is even more relevant now that it celebrates its 15th anniversary. The sequel appears to be a direct progression, revealing that the same individuals who sought to disrupt society ultimately had the tables turned on them over a decade later.