The Social Reckoning, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, hits cinemas this week. It stars Mikey Madison as former Facebook data‑scientist Frances Haugen, Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg.

The story follows Haugen and Horwitz as they reveal that Facebook deliberately altered its algorithm to prioritize content that makes users angry, because angry posts are shared more often and keep people on the platform longer.

The film cites two eye‑opening statistics. First, 64 % of people who joined extremist groups on Facebook were sent there by Facebook itself. Second, 32 % of teen girls reported that Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies.

The Social Reckoning is expected to leave many viewers wanting to delete their accounts and questioning the hidden algorithms that shape what they see.

Beyond the drama, the movie reflects real‑world fallout. After the whistle‑blower revelations, Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle lawsuits from dozens of U.S. states accusing the company of fostering teen addiction.

These facts suggest that algorithmic choices can harm mental health and even fuel extremist activity. Recognising the power of such designs may encourage users to limit their time online or seek platforms with more transparent practices.