Though some have questioned the substance of social networking, Norton believes we are just beginning to grasp its full power.

Edward Norton:  A lot of people have wondered what's the substance of social networking?  Is this just chatter?  Is this just like, hey, look at me and what I’m doing?  Why?  For what purpose, or is there anything to this?  As generational critiques often go; I think a certain older generation of people were quick to sort of go, “Oh how annoying.  This is just sucking kids into this pointless world of texting and chatter.  And what are they doing in there?"

And I think that it’s a great mistake to write off the potency of a trend like this or a tool like this before it’s even had a chance to really get going and work out what it’s going to be.  People thought, like, the Wright Brothers sticking a lawnmower engine on this glider was sort of dilettantish playing around.  And I think that’s how a lot of people have looked at social networking.  But 60 years later, we broke through supersonic flight.  There’s no way to know what social networking is turning into or going to become, but in a very short time, you’re seeing many, many forms of maturation of the whole idea.  

Recorded December 9, 2010
Interviewed by Max Miller
Directed by Jonathan Fowler
Produced by Elizabeth Rodd