Mae Holland se pridruži podjetju The Circle, ki se ukvarja z družbenimi omrežji in najnovejšo tehnologijo. Tam zelo hitro napreduje po lestvici. Grozne posledice tehnologije pridejo navzkriž z veliko željo biti slišan. Sodobni svet, kjer spletna prisotnost pomeni vse in resnično moč posameznika predstavlja število sledilcev na družabnih omrežjih, ima veliko pasti. Po tem, ko lastnik podjetja Eamon Bailey izsili, da Mae stopi pred kamere, skuša ta na vse pretege ohraniti svojo identiteto.
When Mae is hired to work for the world's largest and most powerful tech and social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company's founder, Eamon Bailey, to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and ultimately her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes, begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family and that of humanity.