Would you accept a job at Facebook?

It’s a challenging question. Facebook has some cutting edge products that are so exciting from a technical standpoint, and a wealth of resources to work on those products. That’s a very exciting prospect for a CS major like me. I would definitely have reservations about all the issues highlighted in the reading around user privacy, misinformation, and their influence on societal dynamics. When I think about issues like Cambridge Analytica, it definitely deters me morally from pursuing that opportunity, and continuing it for an extended period of time. My decision to work there would also be contingent on the specific role I’d be taking on and the direct impact of my work to some extent. Ultimately, it’s a balance between the potential to drive positive change from the inside versus the risk of being complicit in practices I might disagree with. If the specific team I work on aligns with my morals, I would probably take that offer, but temporarily. I would either do an internship, or a full time role where I would set myself a hard deadline on how long I would want to continue working there, say for up to 2 years. I would be able to use the opportunity to learn and grow professionally, get that experience on my resume, and also gain some financial freedom. I could then use the skills I acquire there for more impactful and ethically sound projects that I believe could make a difference.