Smithereens App

Designed to be addictive.

Smithereens is a large social media company featured in 'Smithereens,' the second episode of the fifth series of Black Mirror. Created by Charlie Brooker and directed by James Hawes, the episode premiered on Netflix on 5 June 2019 alongside two other installments. The fictional platform closely mirrors Twitter, serving as the central antagonist in a story about grief and addiction. Rideshare driver Chris Gillhaney (Andrew Scott) abducts intern Jaden (Damson Idris) to demand contact with CEO Billy Bauer (Topher Grace). While Smithereen executives attempt to manage the crisis from the U.S., the company's algorithms ruthlessly gather data on Chris, exposing his past as a teacher and the car accident that killed his fiancée.

Quick Facts

First appears: 5 June 2019
Primary function: Social Media Platform
Status: Active (In-Universe)

Lore & Background

In-universe, the company is led by Billy Bauer, a CEO described as a 'switched on, liberal, hippy kind of guy' who feels just as lost and out of control as his hostages. The platform's architecture is intentionally designed to be addictive, prioritizing engagement over user well-being. This design philosophy creates a system where human tragedy becomes ephemeral content; during the hostage crisis, Chris's desperate struggle is reduced to 'ephemeral confetti' that passes by strangers on their phones. The company gathers extensive information on users through social media profiles, allowing them to know intimate details like Chris's history as a teacher and his guilt over a fatal car accident within moments of a kidnapping.

Reader's Guide

The platform serves as a digital confessional and data mine; during Chris's kidnapping, the company instantly accesses his profile to build a psychological profile of him. For employees like Jaden, it is merely an entry-level internship at a massive corporation, yet for Bauer, it represents a 'legend' he helped create that now feels out of control. The system's power is highlighted by its ability to distract millions globally; in the final scene, as Chris struggles with Jaden and snipers fire, people around the world check their phones, see the update, and immediately continue with their lives.

Did You Know?

The episode was inspired by a real experience writer Charlie Brooker had when an Uber driver unexpectedly exited the car to get water, leaving Brooker unaware of their location.
Andrew Scott requested that most scenes be shot in chronological order to help him slowly reveal his character's emotional state, despite his inability to drive for the filming.
Topher Grace filmed his scenes as CEO Billy Bauer in Spain while Andrew Scott and the rest of the cast filmed in England, with an actor hired off-screen to read Chris's lines during their phone call.
The social media company 'Smithereens' is a fictionalized version of Twitter, with CEO Billy Bauer compared to real-life CEO Jack Dorsey.
While the episode received widespread praise for Andrew Scott's acting, which earned an Emmy nomination, critics largely criticized the storyline as simple and the message as too straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smithereens?

Smithereens is a fictional social media network appearing in the second episode of Black Mirror’s fifth season.

Who founded the company behind Smithereens?

The company was founded by CEO Billy Bauer, who maintains significant control over its operations while remaining isolated from daily responsibilities.