The Facebook Dilemma

While at Harvard, Mark Zuckerberg conceived the idea for Facebook, with the aim of using Internet technology to make the world more "open and connected." The young company also posted a slogan at their headquarters: "move fast and break things," which some critics read as Facebook’s admission that they were unconcerned about the impact of their actions. Hosted and directed by James Jacoby, this PBS-aired Frontline documentary looks at Facebook’s first 15 years. Hopeful and optimistic, Facebook’s goal was to be a power for good, "rewiring the world from the ground up." Their success was immediate, thanks to meteoric growth. One of the first examples of real-world consequences was during the Arab Spring in 2011. But while the site could connect people and serve democratic change, it also allowed bad actors to spread rumors, lies, and hate speech. Facebook sought ways to monetize the site, using features like News Feed and a "like" button. But the business was hampered by understaffing, which didn’t keep up with growth, as well as a complacent, even arrogant belief that they were the good guys—part of the solution, not the problem. Initially, users didn’t realize how their personal data was being shared and their privacy compromised, and as politics became more tribal, conspiracy opportunists misled users with fake news. Even worse, hyper-partisans in countries like Myanmar used Facebook to foment hate and genocide, while Russian trolls fanned discontent in the Ukraine and disrupted America’s 2016 election. Zuckerberg pledged to do better, but changes to its business model were slow in coming. Is this a case of idealism gone wrong, and/or a company having too much power? Featuring testimony from congressional critics, tech gurus, and select Facebook officials, this is a still unfolding but compelling look at Facebook’s dilemma. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)