Educational Media Reviews Online

How can a tech-savvy society be so gullible in its use of social media? Facebook Follies grapples with this question, examining the perils and promise of information exchange on Facebook.

Combining case studies and expert analysis, the film is quite candid about Facebook’s far-reaching impact on our culture. Most eye-opening are the personal accounts of those who’ve suffered harsh consequences as well as those who’ve greatly benefited from being on Facebook. Viewers will see just how easily careless postings can result in identity theft, job loss, broken relationships, and jail time. On the flip side, the film pays tribute to the positive power of Facebook, showing how effective it can be in reconnecting families and rooting out criminals.

Also noteworthy is the film’s discussion of Facebook’s business model. It clearly dispels the notion that Facebook is a “free” service, revealing how the social media giant sells and shares members’ information for profit.

Exceptionally well-written and produced, Facebook Follies offers valuable insight into the changing nature of human communication in the context of social networks.

In the fall of 2011, Facebook Follies was the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s most watched documentary. It was also an official selection at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam and the Festival des Libertés ZagrebDox in Brussels.

Highly recommended for academic and public libraries, Facebook Follies is also an excellent teaching tool for communication and social science courses. The 42-minute version is rated PG-13. The 55-minute version contains sexually indiscrete material.