Ah, social media. Nowadays, it feels like we’ve been digitally connected to all our friends forever, and it’s easy to forget that there was ever a time without dozens of social networks keeping us in the loop on everyone’s lives. Social networks were officially launched in 1997, with a site named Six Degrees, and soon began to take over our lives in the 2000s. From Friendster and MySpace in the early days, to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z, to today’s TikTok and Snapchat, there are plenty of platforms to keep you doomscrolling for the whole day.
Some prefer sites like LinkedIn, to make business connections; others favor Facebook, which has been around for longer; and then there are the WhatsApp aficionados all over the world. We spend so much time on social media that words like “followers,” “likes,” and “views” have become part of our language; many even choose to buy Goread followers to boost their online presence. Regardless of your relationship with social media, one thing is certain: this global phenomenon is fascinating, and it’s one that plenty of movies have explored throughout the years. Here’s a list of 5 great movies about social media that will educate you, spark your curiosity, and more importantly, entertain you, listed below in no particular order.
1. The Social Network (2010)
David Fincher
We had to start with one of the most well-known and beloved movies about social media out there: David Fincher’s The Social Network, chronicling the birth of Facebook and telling the story of its creator. This 2010 takes place in two separate timelines. One follows Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and his roommate/best friend/Facebook co-creator Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) at Harvard.
Right off the bat, we get to see how the social network was born, not out of careful planning but simply as a result of Mark wanting to get back at his ex-girlfriend (Rooney Mara) for dumping him. There were a few hiccups, including a very similar idea that some schoolmates of Mark’s (twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, both played by Armie Hammer) may or may not have had, but also a lot of victories, and a fruitful collaboration with Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake).
As we witness Mark’s – and Facebook’s – rise to success, we also get to see a second timeline, in which an older Mark is dealing with not one but two lawsuits, including one from his former best friend Saverin. Whether or not what we see in the film is accurate is up to you to decide: the movie is based on Ben Mezrich’s nonfiction novel “The Accidental Billionaires,” written with Saverin as the main consultant. But though part of the film is fictional, The Social Network remains a supremely entertaining, well-paced drama that will keep your eyes glued to the screen throughout.
2. Bob Trevino Likes It (2025)
Tracie Laymon
Writer-director Tracie Laymon one day started talking to her dad online only to realize that she was having a conversation with a stranger who simply happened to have the same name as her dad. This inspired her to make Bob Trevino Likes It, the most recent entry on this list and one you absolutely cannot miss.
Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreria) has always had a rocky relationship with her self-centered and opportunistic father, Robert (French Stewart). One day, after a minor incident when he was on a date, he stops talking to her, removing her from his life entirely. Since Robert refuses to engage with her completely, Lily decides to reach out to him on social media. And so, she sends a friend request to Bob Trevino – except this Bob Trevino is, to quote Star Wars, “not the Bob she’s looking for”. This Bob (John Leguizamo) is a complete stranger, but one whose friendship be able to give her exactly the kind of deep, meaningful connection she has been needing all her life.
To say much more would spoil the movie for you, but this is one of the surprises of the year – not to mention, one of the few movies out there that depict social media in a positive light. It’s the kind of film we absolutely need right now, exploring themes like our universal need to belong, and Barbie Ferreira is flawless as the protagonist. Bob Trevino Likes It is a must-watch.
3. Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Matt Spicer
From Facebook to Instagram. Matt Spicer’s dark comedy captivated audiences ever since it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and continues to do so today with fantastic performances and a story that couldn’t be more timely. In Ingrid Goes West, the titular protagonist (Aubrey Plaza) is released from a psychiatric ward after a challenging time that started when her mother died, and soon becomes obsessed with an Instagram influencer named Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). Not happy with just being one of her followers, Ingrid takes her obsession to the next level when she moves to Los Angeles, where Taylor lives with her boyfriend (Wyatt Russell), and the two become friends. But it’s a doomed friendship where both parties’ intentions might not be as transparent as they think, and chaos ensues.
Ingrid Goes West is an accurate analysis of our need for attention and validation, exploring how easy it is to allow a fictional world completely take over the real one, and to let our delusions take a hold of reality. It’s also a bleak, entertaining satire, and it’s bound to become your next go-to social media comedy.
4. The Social Dilemma (2020)
Jeff Orlowski
The only documentary on this list is one that took over the world when it hit Netflix, becoming hugely popular with audiences all over the globe. The Social Dilemma isn’t revolutionary, but if all you know about social media is that you can have followers and like content, then it’ll be an eye-opening watch. The documentary explores what takes place behind the scenes, from how the algorithm is calculated to the many ways in which social networks monitor our behavior and influence our decisions. A combination of vignettes and interviews makes The Social Dilemma gripping throughout, and the insight it gives you makes it a film you’ll remember and even come back to. If you’re looking for an easy but informative watch, look no further than this documentary.
5. Searching (2018)
Aneesh Chaganty
We move into psychological thriller territory with Aneesh Chaganty’s Searching (2018), where John Cho plays David, a father whose 16-year-old daughter goes missing. When our protagonist realizes that the police isn’t getting any closer to finding her, he takes matters in his own hands in the only way he knows how: by using social media. David opens Margot’s laptop and starts looking for clues, tracing her digital footprints and using photos, videos, and friendships on social networks to get closer to his daughter’s possible location.
The premise might be straightforward, but Searching has a lot in store for you, including a tense narrative that will keep you glued to your seat, some clever twists, fantastic acting from everyone involved, and a meaningful message about how present young people are on social media. It was also mainly shot on iPhones and GoPro cameras, which makes for an even more realistic, immersive experience. Don’t miss it!
The five movies listed above are only some of the many films out there about social media, which tackle many sides of a social and cultural phenomenon that has taken over our lives. For films about influencers, we’d also recommend Hulu’s Not Okay; if horror is what you’re after, check out Cam (2018). For recent releases, try Sweat (2020), KIMI (2022), and documentary Coded Bias (2020); for cult classics, watch Pulse (2001) and Hard Candy (2005). Enjoy!
