Would I Accept a Job at Facebook?—Becoming a Corporate Sellout (?)

The Controversy
Facebook has been the subject of countless controversies over the past decade. Just two weeks ago I got an email with the subject line “SETTLEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION STATUS UPDATE.” It was part of the In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation—the $725 million class action settlement where Facebook (now Meta) admitted to unlawfully sharing user data with third parties without consent. Payments began rolling out this month for U.S. users who had accounts between 2007 and 2022. It’s a strange feeling to see the company framed in those legal terms, and then to imagine myself actually working there.

Balancing Values and Tradeoffs
Our reading in 5.1, “Finding Jobs You Want,” laid out seven values—meaning, leisure time, money, power, prestige, comfort, security—that shape how we evaluate careers. At this stage of my own career, I think I would accept a job at Meta. Up to now, my primary work has been in psychology research and at an NGO focused on the environment. But I’ve never had a full-on industry role. Learning how products at scale actually get built at a FAANG company would be invaluable: the skills, the exposure, and yes, the credibility on a résumé. Even in a turbulent tech market, “Meta” on your CV still opens doors.

The Ethical Contradiction
Of course, the ethical concerns don’t disappear. The Vox article on the Facebook Papers points out how the company reshaped media ecosystems and, in turn, entire societies. Taking a role at Meta means stepping into that contradiction—benefiting from the opportunity while knowing the history of harm. But as 5.2, “Working for Ethically Complicated Organizations,” reminds us, almost every company is ethically messy. The real question isn’t if there’s stink; it’s how close does the stink get to your office? If I could join a team focused on integrity, safety, or user well-being, the proximity to harm would feel lower—and the work more defensible.

Growing, Not Selling Out
I don’t see myself staying long-term. I’ve never been built for the 9–5 cycle, and I know I’d eventually want to move into roles more closely tied to my values. But as a first industry job, I’d take it—eyes open, time-boxed, and with a plan for what comes next. Sometimes the best career move isn’t about permanence but about sequencing: using one chapter to prepare for the next.

If I were to accept a job at Meta, it wouldn’t mean ignoring the contradictions. It would mean owning them, learning from the inside, and then carrying that experience forward. To me, that’s not selling out—it’s building the leverage to one day do better. Maybe I’ll leave once the next settlement happens.