The franchise "South Park" took the opportunity to use its animated series to set the stage for the upcoming role-playing game (RPG) "South Park: The Fractured but Whole." In the fourth episode of its season 21, aptly titled "Franchise Prequel," the creators weaved a storyline that directly led to the events that would unfold in the game.
The episode resurrected the rivalry between Coon and Friends as well as Professor Chaos, setting up the epic conflict that would be the jump-off point for the upcoming game.
Not only did the episode serve as a prequel to the game, as its title suggested, it also threw a number of jabs directed at Facebook and its chief executive officer, Mark Zuckerberg.
In the episode, Coon and Friends fell victim to the rampant spreading of fake news on the social media platform. The group of heroes was portrayed in Facebook as a bunch of uncivilized heroes who engaged in bestiality.
In its usual witty but sharp quips, "South Park" demonstrated the dangers of social media becoming a platform for fake news machines to spread divisive misinformation. The episode also managed to show how supposedly rational and smart adults fail to discern facts from obviously made-up news.
The episode had a lot to say about the recent controversy that Facebook has been facing when thousands of Russian-connected ads were discovered to have been spread over the social media platform, exposing Americans to fake news.
Zuckerberg is also featured in the episode, sporting his signature grey shirt, pale face, and rosy cheeks. The show portrayed the executive as having an absolute disconnect from reality.
During a town hall meeting, the social media boss was confronted about the issue of fake news. "Mr. Zuckerberg, Facebook has become a tool for some to disrupt our nation and our community," one of the adults told the animated version of Zuckerberg.
"You say these things like they are my fault yet they are not," replied the executive with indifference.
"South Park: The Fractured but Whole" will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on Oct. 17.
