Every time I’m faced with the question of working for a company with ethical complexities, the example of Wernher von Braun comes to mind. He developed rockets first for Nazi Germany and later for the United States. For him, the focus was on whether the rockets went up, not where they came down. This illustrates the ethical dilemma of contributing to a product without considering its broader impact.
I believe that I give my essence—my values, history, and culture—into the work I do. Placing myself in a role in an unethical environment would make me question my self-respect and the meaning I derive from my professional life. Just as the reading Working for Ethically Complicated Organizations pointed out, I value not just the company’s actions but also how my role is connected to these actions and broader implications of my work.
Facebook is not an all-evil company. It has revolutionized the industry in many ways and has been held accountable for its actions, unlike some companies elsewhere. Yes, there have been serious data security breaches in the past, but what’s crucial for me is whether I can contribute to making the company more ethical.
In the second article, the emphasis was on balancing personal values with professional opportunities. In terms of professional opportunities, Facebook (Meta) is great. For me, the key question is: How does my work impact others? I thought the discussion of the Psilocybin Project was to the point as this example questioned everyone’s responsibility in this unethical work from top to down. Say, if my role there involved making the platforms more addictive in harmful ways, I would surely have ethical reservations.
However, if I were developing new products that provide genuine value—like advancements in the metaverse or improving infrastructure to make Facebook more accessible in remote areas—I would feel confident in my contribution.
In conclusion, I would accept a job at Facebook if I can ensure that my work aligns with my values and doesn’t compromise my self-respect. In most roles at Facebook, I believe it’s possible to maintain this balance and make a positive impact.
