Would you accept a job at Facebook?
Most likely, yes.
Facebook has a lot of issues. Their products can cause stress or addiction, controls the media and narratives billions consume, and uses user data with (what seems to be) little oversight. There appears to be a lack of true innovation and an unhealthy dependency on the existing suite of products.
So, why accept a job at Facebook?
Facebook makes (some) products that improve society
WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, among others, have literally connected billions of people. For many, it’s their sole way of communicating with others. Families around the world talk and call through WhatsApp and Messenger while Instagram allows people to share and stay connected with friends, especially in stressful times like the pandemic.
Without Facebook and people to build those products, nearly a third of the world would lose a vital channel for communication and human connection.
I can stay away from harmful products (or even fix them)
As “Working for Ethically Complicated Organizations” mentions, one question to ask is “How close is my work to those actions I believe wrong?” If my offer to work at Facebook meant I could help forge deeper connections between our users through calls and chat in Messenger, that would be much more appealing than working strictly on the Ads team or algorithms that push extreme content. And, even if I were to work on an ethically complicated product, if Facebook has the flexibility for me to change the product vision to be more ethical, then it may be worth giving it a shot.
It’s a good career opportunity, especially early on
There’s also the idea that Facebook provides high-caliber growth opportunities and excellent compensation. The article raises the argument that one can also have a “compelling duty to provide for your family and loved ones” and use ethically complicated organizations as a launchpad into more meaningful work. Working at Facebook might mean I would acquire skills for building good products that I couldn’t easily learn elsewhere, so there’s another reason to accept the job.
Based on these reasons, there is a good chance I would accept a Facebook job offer. Though this may not be a long-term gig and I may realize later that the ethics outweigh the positives that Facebook brings, it’s something I’m willing to explore.
