Facebook.com

Surely the inventors of the internet (if they are still alive) are nervously puffing away, watching how it has changed. How the trivial transmission of bits and bytes has transformed into a new quality providing communication possibilities that no longer remotely correspond to classic communication principles and very often prompt questions about ethical norms. And so we too, addicted to social networks, went to appreciate the much-praised virtual world in The Social Network at Kino Lora in Sigulda.

The Facebook story:

The story is about Harvard University student Mark Zuckerberg, who was a talented programmer with a leaning towards virtual social networks (as they were understood at the time), but who was completely unsuccessful in relationships. He had one friend, who was also his dormmate Eduardo Saverin. There was also a girlfriend - Erica Albright - from whom he soon broke up. The events take place in 2003 at Harvard University.

Immediately after the break-up with his girlfriend, Mark, drowning his heartache and downing a few beers, "knocked up" Facemash overnight. Facemash was a website where students living at Harvard could rate photographs. The photographs were obtained in a not entirely legal way, which also served as the reason for the website's shutdown. Nevertheless the result was achieved - 22,000 views in four hours. The site would certainly have been even more visited had it not been for the eagle-eyed network monitors who at four in the morning noticed that the Harvard network had "crashed" under the load.

Inspired by the realised idea, Mark got to work on his next project - thefacebook.com, which was launched on 4 February 2004. In the film, Mark is seen to be obsessed with this project and the ever-growing number of registered users. He lived in the project and continually added new features, at times even forgetting that the project also needed to generate revenue. Eduardo had to take care of attracting funding, which he was entirely unable to do. The growing popularity of facebook.com and the disagreements that arose between the two friends created a rift - and as it later turned out - a fateful one. Mark got to know Napster co-founder and very active and charismatic figure Sean Parker. Evidently Sean's financial attraction potential and vision for facebook.com's development seemed interesting to Mark, and they quickly grew close. In June 2004, the first Facebook office was rented, in California. Shortly after, Sean managed to attract investment of $500,000.

The saddest part of this story is that the rift between Mark and Eduardo grew so deep that the two continued to resolve their disputes in court. Around the same time, brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss also brought claims - they had recruited Mark in late 2003 to work on a similar project. Both lawsuits ended in settlement, which cost Mark approximately $60 million.

Notably, facebook.com has the lowest CTR (clickthrough rate). Meaning this is one of those sites where people click on ads the least. Facebook explains this by saying the site's visitors are young and technically educated people. But... you can only register on Facebook from age 13.

A few facts about the characters' lives:

Mark Zuckerberg.

Born 14 May 1984 in New York, USA, to a family of doctors. Of Jewish heritage.
While still in high school he programmed Synapse Media Player, which used artificial intelligence to evaluate (and apparently recommend) the listener's musical taste. Microsoft and AOL wanted to acquire this project and also recruit Mark. Instead, Mark distributed the product for free and, in place of the tempting job opportunity, chose to study at Harvard.
24% of shares

Eduardo Saverin

Born 19 March 1982 in Brazil, in a Jewish family. His father worked in exports and real estate. Enrolled at Harvard University to study economics; was a member of the Phoenix S.K. Club. Mark's closest friend.
5% of shares

Dustin Moskovitz

Born 22 May 1984 in Washington, D.C., in a Jewish family. Enrolled at Harvard University, studied economics. Was a programmer on the facebook.com project.
6% of shares

Chris R. Hughes

Born 26 November 1983 in the USA. Was initially the spokesperson for facebook.com. In 2008, organised Obama's presidential election campaign on social networks.

Sean Parker

Born 3 December 1979. Co-founder of Napster. Since 2004 the informal advisor to facebook.com, later - president of the company. Left Facebook after being caught using drugs.
4% of shares

Source used - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook