Week Six - "The Social Network"

I found “The Social Network” to be a very engrossing film the first time I saw it, and the same can be said for when we watched it in class last week.  It is a well-written, well-acted film that chronicles the rise of Facebook from a website for Harvard students only to a worldwide, global phenomenon.  However, upon second viewing, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of what takes place in the movie took place in the actual development of the website.

To me, it is clear that Mark Zuckerberg used a lot of ideas from the Winklevoss’s “Harvard Connection” website in his creation of Facebook.  In its infancy, Facebook was available to just college students, as was the Harvard Connection.  Creating a profile, networking with your friends and posting photos were key ingredients in both sites.  I found it hard to believe Zuckerberg’s character did not use the Harvard Connection as a basis for what is now Facebook.

The way the character of Zuckerberg was written in the film made him unsympathetic, as well.  He appeared rude, short-tempered and difficult during the multiple trials he was involved in.  It made me want to side more with the other parties than with Zuckerberg.  He also came across that way during his time at Harvard.  He seemed bitter about being rejected by the school’s final clubs, even hinting at his partner, Eduardo Saverin, that his inclusion was due to a need for diversity.

Having said all of that, I still find it amazing that Facebook has become what it is today.  Growing from a small site on Harvard’s campus to having one billion users is absolutely ridiculous.  Perhaps the thing I am most impressed with is the simplicity of the idea.  People want to connect with their friends online.  They want to share photos and exchange information.  It almost seems like Zuckerberg knew what people wanted before we knew it.