As someone raised in a family that lived paycheck-to-paycheck, money is more important than I’d like to admit. Unfortunately, the roles that provide the security and salary I would prefer often reside in the big tech companies. My moral compass, however, guides all the decisions in my life, and I would never work for any organization that explicitly causes harm, including all defense contractors or arms manufacturers.
That being said, in my perspective, Facebook’s crimes do not compare to that level of atrocity. Its main concerns lie in the exploitation of consumers in the form of surveillance capitalism as well as repeated data breaches. While harmful, this is not the same as a business model centered on producing weapons or profiting from war.
If I was to reframe this goal in terms of “Working for Ethically Complicated Organizations: Seven Values for Ranking Jobs,” working at Facebook hits every nail in the coffin. As the article mentioned, although I may make a contribution, I am not the sole proprietor of the company’s actions. The post also allows me to better equip myself to get an improved job further down the line. This is exactly where my line of thinking lies: my end goal is to work in a more socially productive industry such as biotech.
My worries just lie in the fact that I will not be able to build credibility unless I succumb to working in tech first, then move on to another industry. This step is not only to ensure my own wellbeing, but also the wellbeing of those I take care of.
In conclusion, while I may not fully align with Facebook’s values, I recognize the opportunity as a necessary stepping stone, one that provides financial security now and positions me for the socially impactful career I ultimately want to pursue.
