Yes, I would accept a job at Facebook.
It is no secret that Facebook has faced criticism over issues like the spread of misinformation (ie: elections). However, in this case, I believe that misinformation is not the company’s goal; rather, their objective is to deliver hyper-targeted content to users for monetization purposes, and misinformation is an unintended negative side effect.
To combat misinformation and other issues, I actually believe it might be more ethical to join the company than to distance oneself from the “stink.” By being aware of the issues and choosing to stay away, one could argue that this avoids moral responsibility when given the opportunity to make a difference. By joining a team dedicated to improving security, promoting user privacy, or combating misinformation, I can contribute positively to help solve the issues—similar to the recycling initiative at the plastic company mentioned in the reading. Likewise, by bringing my ethical standards to Facebook, I can help promote solutions to these problems internally.
Also, the reading emphasizes that “ethics isn’t only about duties to others; there are also duties to you.” Working at Facebook provides significant opportunities from a career growth perspective and a lifestyle that many find attractive from a monetary and work-life balance perspective. At the end of the day, if it is a job that provides upward trajectory with the aforementioned benefits and the ability to promote change from within, it makes sense to take the job to me.
