Facemash (Dramatic Irony)
At the beginning of the film, Mark hacks into the databases of several on-campus organizations and steals photographs of female students so he can put their faces on a website that invites users to rate which of the women is more attractive. In an instance of dramatic irony, Fincher cuts between shots of Mark building the website and shots of women out partying at final clubs on the campus, oblivious to the fact that a group of men are actively violating their privacy at the same moment.
Recognition From the Board (Situational Irony)
When Mark gets caught hacking Harvard websites in the beginning of the film, he sits before an administrative disciplinary board hearing. One of the officials asks if he wants to make a statement, and Mark says that he expects to receive some recognition from the board. The comment confuses the board, and Mark explains that he did them a favor by pointing out the many holes in the security of their computer network. In this instance of situational irony, Mark subverts the board's and the viewer's expectations by claiming to want praise for an act he is being punished for.
Greater Men (Situational Irony)
During a lecture, a female student passes a note to Mark; the note contains an insult. This leads Mark to stand up and leave the lecture room. As he is leaving, the professor comments on how his question to the class has caused someone to abandon the lecture, and he sarcastically tells Mark not to worry because many greater men than him have tried and failed on the same question. In an instance of situational irony, Mark calmly replies with the missing elements of the professor's equation, proving that he is not leaving because he doesn't understand the material. If anything, he understands the material so well that the lecture is an insult to his intelligence.
Erica's Approval (Situational Irony)
In the final scene in the film, Mark sits before his computer waiting for his ex-girlfriend, Erica Albright, to accept his Facebook friend request. In this instance of situational irony, Mark still longs for her approval despite his company having become worth billions of dollars in the six years since she dumped him. No matter how much power and prestige he has amassed, Mark remains wounded by Erica's rejection.
