Stereotypes In The Social Network

Clearly, The Social Network is a negative representation of youth. Youth is a socially constructed period of time between the ages of 12 to 24 years. The stereotypes (a generalisation of an individual or group of people based on their race, religion, gender ect. ) interoperated in the film suggest a heavy drug and alcohol dependency and culture. The negative and immature image of character’s social skills and friendships are key themes in the film. A negative depiction is presented throughout The Social Network.

Alcohol and drug use is represented as an accustomed act for youth. Much of the film is based around lives of college students, many scenes being at parties and smaller gatherings. From casual scenes including the display of cigarettes
Party scenes include pills and other substances. Overall, throughout the film no-one is left out or refuses the use of drugs. The representation of youth’s binge drinking problem is emphasized with most if the characters highly intoxicated when alcohol is implied. The ‘party’ culture of the film encourages the stereotype of the ‘popular’ people within a school society as Mark turns from a ‘nobody’ to someone who is well known throughout the school and considered ‘popular’. Sean’s influence on Mark is relevant as most of Mark’s decisions in the end are passed or determined by Sean, “drop the ‘the’. Just Facebook.” Mark looked up to Sean, he saw him as someone he strived to be one day, whatever Sean suggested in according to the company was looked at by Mark. Sean was ‘cool’ and the first person that not only believed in Mark but treated him as ‘cool’ as well, ‘A million dollars isn’t cool, you know what’s cool? A billion dollars.” Even though Sean saw this is Mark he proved to have the wrong intentions and was a negative influence on Mark during the times he needed to have someone sensible by his side.
As Mark gains more popularity and money his care for his friends and belongings deteriorate. His house in California, financially provided by his ‘best- friend’ at the tie Edwardo was trashed and never taken care of, nor taken seriously. Mark had ultimately no regard for anyone’s emotions and feelings throughout the film, from his blog to ‘Facesmash’ and eventually his relationship with Edwardo. Mark was heavily influenced by Sean, encouraging the disregard. Facebook has encouraged youth from the very start, to live an online life instead if a real one. This is definitely the influence of Marks social nature reflecting on the rest of communities around the world. However, Facebook has created a space to connect with communities and other people no one could ever have dreamt of before its creation. Overall, it has had a negative influence on many lives, encouraging and making criminal behaviour online a lot easier to do stealthily. It has also made antisocial behaviour, especially by youth normalized and