Here’s a curated list of movies about social media — from psychological thrillers to documentaries and dramas that explore its effects on identity, privacy, and human connection. I’ve divided them by type so you can pick depending on what mood or theme you want.
Dramas & Psychological Thrillers
1. The Social Network (2010) – The origin story of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg’s rise, showing ambition, betrayal, and the darker side of digital empire-building.
2. Ingrid Goes West (2017) – A dark comedy about obsession and influencer culture; a woman’s unhealthy fixation on an Instagram star spirals into madness.
3. Mainstream (2020) – A surreal look at internet fame and the price of viral success.
4. The Circle (2017) – A dystopian drama about a powerful tech company that blurs the line between transparency and surveillance.
5. Eighth Grade (2018) – A raw, emotional portrait of a middle-schooler navigating social media anxiety and self-image.
6. Unfriended (2014) – A horror film that unfolds entirely on a computer screen, showing cyberbullying’s consequences.
7. Searching (2018) – A gripping thriller told through screens, as a father searches for his missing daughter online.
8. Nerve (2016) – A high-stakes game of dares livestreamed online explores peer pressure and digital voyeurism.
9. Disconnect (2012) – Interwoven stories about how technology and social media can isolate and expose people.
10. The Hater (2020) – A Polish thriller about manipulation, fake news, and online influence.
Documentaries
1. The Social Dilemma (2020) – Tech insiders expose how social media manipulates behavior, rewires society, and fuels polarization.
2. The Great Hack (2019) – Examines the Cambridge Analytica scandal and how data became the new weapon of war.
3. Fake Famous (2021) – An experiment showing how easily people can be made into influencers with fake followers.
4. TikTok, Boom. (2022) – Explores TikTok’s rise, its algorithm, and how it shapes youth culture and politics.
5. The Cleaners (2018) – Investigates the hidden world of social media content moderators who filter violence, hate, and misinformation.
6. Like (2018) – Focuses on how social media affects self-esteem, anxiety, and relationships in teens.
7. Childhood 2.0 (2020) – A sobering look at how growing up with social media impacts kids’ mental health and safety.
Found Footage & Experimental Formats
1. Profile (2018) – A journalist goes undercover online to infiltrate extremist recruitment, told entirely through a computer screen.
2. Host (2020) – A horror movie conducted over a Zoom call during lockdown.
3. Spree (2020) – A rideshare driver livestreams his killing spree to gain followers — a dark satire on influencer culture.