Zuckerberg Took Facebook Employees to See 'The Social Network'

Zuckerberg's Reaction to "The Social Network"

Despite not being widely admired in Silicon Valley, Mark Zuckerberg's discomfort regarding a film based on his life is understandable.

Zuckerberg discussed his single viewing of “The Social Network” during an appearance on the Colin and Samir YouTube podcast.

Inaccuracies in the Film's Narrative

He described the experience as unsettling, noting the film’s accuracy in minor details – such as his clothing – contrasted sharply with its flawed depiction of his motivations.

The narrative presented in the 15-year-old movie, according to Zuckerberg, was “completely wrong.”

An Unexpected Fashion Statement

The topic arose because Zuckerberg was wearing a T-shirt identical to one worn by Jesse Eisenberg, who portrayed him in the film.

Interestingly, Zuckerberg later purchased this same T-shirt at auction.

His style has evolved from the previously ubiquitous plain grey T-shirts, suggesting his choice of apparel was deliberate.

A Company Viewing

Anticipating his employees’ curiosity, Zuckerberg organized a company screening of the film.

Disputed Motivations

Zuckerberg refuted the film’s suggestion that his primary motivation for creating Facebook was to attract a girlfriend.

He clarified that he was already in a relationship with Priscilla Chan prior to Facebook’s inception.

The Origins of Controversy: Facemash

The portrayal may be linked to his earlier creation, Facemash, a controversial website allowing students to rate their peers’ attractiveness.

While popular with some, Facemash sparked outrage due to privacy concerns, as it utilized student ID photos obtained from restricted servers.

Founding Myths and Misconceptions

Zuckerberg believes that the internet often constructs narratives that align with pre-existing biases.

“It’s an unfortunate part of the internet, how people kind of make up a lot of the founding mythology to what they want,” he stated.

Facemash and Facebook: A False Connection

He explicitly denied that Facemash served as a precursor to Facebook.

Zuckerberg attributes the continued association between the two platforms to the influence of “The Social Network,” even after more than two decades.

He concluded by emphasizing his youth at the time, stating, “I was just a kid.”