The Social Reckoning is inspired by the true story of the 2021 Facebook leak, which provided evidence that Facebook was aware of harmful effects of its platforms, yet persisted in prioritizing profit over addressing these harms.

In 2019, Frances Haugen joined Facebook as a product manager working on civic integrity. Her team focused on reducing misinformation, election interference, and harmful content across the platform. Following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Facebook dissolved much of the civic integrity team, leading Haugen to become increasingly concerned that the company was prioritizing growth over user safety.

Before leaving the company in 2021, Haugen copied thousands of internal documents that she believed demonstrated Facebook's awareness of the negative impacts of its products, particularly on teenagers' mental health, political polarization, and the spread of misinformation. She anonymously provided the documents to The Wall Street Journal, where reporter Jeff Horwitz used them as the basis for "The Facebook Files," a series of investigative reports that revealed the company's internal research and decision-making.

Soon after the articles were published, Haugen publicly identified herself as the whistleblower during an interview with 60 Minutes. She later testified before the U.S. Senate, urging lawmakers to introduce stronger regulations for social media companies and arguing that Facebook repeatedly placed profits ahead of public safety. Her testimony intensified calls around the world for greater oversight of large technology companies.

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Social Reckoning serves as a companion piece to The Social Network (2010). The film stars Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen, Jeremy Allen White as reporter Jeff Horwitz, and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg. ~Megan Parsons