Broken Code

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An award-winning technology reporter for The Wall Street Journal offers a revealing look at the manipulative tactics Facebook employed to expand its business and the impact on online connections. Once a dominant force in social media, Facebook, along with Instagram and WhatsApp, became a daily hub for billions. However, following the 2016 election, even senior executives began to question the company's optimistic claims about fostering connection. A series of scandals prompted employees to investigate deeper issues, revealing that Facebook was amplifying anger, ignoring human trafficking, enabling drug cartels, and allowing VIP users to bypass rules. Concerns about teen safety also surfaced, highlighting the platform's harmful effects that went unrecognized by many. Despite enduring personal and professional challenges, employees identified the root causes of Facebook's viral harms and proposed solutions. However, the costs of implementing these changes—often minimal in terms of user engagement—were deemed too high by leadership. As a result, those who understood the platform's damaging impact faced the dilemma of silence or defiance. This narrative unfolds the story of these courageous employees and their discoveries, detailing the architecture of Facebook's failures and its disregard for societal consequences. Even as the company rebranded to Meta in 2021, the global issues stemming from social media remain unresolved.