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posted by martyb on Monday December 10 2018, @10:58AM   Printer-friendly
from the what-a-wicked-web-we-weave... dept.

Mark Zuckerberg's Biggest Problem: Internal Tensions At Facebook Are Boiling Over

In a year teeming with scandals and missteps, Facebook's latest fiasco has inspired a clutter of leaks, finger pointing, and internal conversations about the future of the company and its leadership. And after more than a year of bad press, internal tensions are reaching a boiling point and are now spilling out into public view.

The tumult is surprising given Facebook's history as a tight-lipped organization where employees had little incentive to leak information or voice dissent outside the company's walls. Throughout the crises, Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who maintains majority shareholder control, has proven remarkably immune to outside pressure and criticism — from politicians, investors, and the press — leaving his employees as perhaps his most important stakeholders. Now, as its stock price declines and the company's mission of connecting the world is challenged, the voices inside are growing louder and public comments, as well as private conversations shared with BuzzFeed News, suggest newfound uncertainty about Facebook's future direction.

Internally, the conflict seems to have divided Facebook into three camps: those loyal to Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg; those who see the current scandals as proof of a larger corporate meltdown; and a group who see the entire narrative — including the portrayal of the company's hiring of communications consulting firm Definers Public Affairs — as examples of biased media attacks.

[...] [A] former senior employee noted a growing sense of paranoia among current employees. "Now, people now have burner phones to talk shit about the company — not even to reporters, just to other employees," they told BuzzFeed News. [...] On Blind, a semi-public app that allows current and former employees with a company email to post anonymously, Facebook employees on Facebook-related message boards are openly speculating about and arguing over Sandberg's fate. "The board is being questioned for not taking action, but Zuck will side with her like he is spellbound," one user wrote, asking if the company could find a solution to its leadership struggles. "Shall we have a walkout to let her go like what Google employees did?" another countered, referencing the worker action taken at the search giant in which thousands of employees marched to protest the company's policies around sexual harassment.

Others argued that bad optics would prevent the company from removing Sandberg, a noted feminist author. "One does not simply fire the author of 'Lean In' and pretty much the sole female executive in top leadership," one Blind user wrote. Another remarked that Sandberg's personal image was politically polarizing. "Her left-leaning brand has hurt us considerably, we need to mend fences and be seen to be a platform for the left and the right going forward." Discussions across Facebook's Blind page quickly turn tense at the mention of Sandberg. A user with the username "SherylS" expressed frustration at those in the company revering Sandberg as a women's icon and leader. "It's time to stand up to these fake opportunist feminist champions though," they wrote. "'Give me opportunities to succeed!! I'm a victim!! Lean in!!" the post read. Some of the disagreement centers on social justice–minded individuals inside the company, pointing to an internal Facebook Workplace group called "Let's Fix Facebook": "Just go read 'let's fix Facebook' for a bit and see all the sjw complainers." Indeed, some inside Blind's current and former Facebook employee group debated whether Sandberg was insulated from legitimate criticism due to her defenders "playing the woman card."

Short version at NYMag.

Previously: Amid Calls to "Police" Social Media, Facebook Announces Independent Body to Handle User Appeals
More Calls to Regulate Facebook After Soros-Related Opposition Research Scandal


Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by Oakenshield on Monday December 10 2018, @02:19PM (6 children)

    by Oakenshield (4900) on Monday December 10 2018, @02:19PM (#772365)

    It's Facebook itself that is Sauron, not Zuckerberg. It is the all seeing eye and the source of all evil.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 3, Informative) by HiThere on Monday December 10 2018, @05:08PM (5 children)

    by HiThere (866) Subscriber Badge on Monday December 10 2018, @05:08PM (#772422) Journal

    Sorry, but Sauron wasn't the "all seeing eye". He just controlled it. It was the palantir that originally came from Minas Ithel. Sauruman was doing the same thing, but hadn't gotten as far, and was suffering mind control from Sauron. Everybody else who had access was either afraid to use it or was driven crazy. (There were originally 9 palantir, but several of them were lost, perhaps even destroyed. I think two were permanently lost in the fall of Numenor.)

    Warning: It's been decades since I read that series, so a couple of details may be wrong. E.g., perhaps there were originally 7 palantir, but I think that it's only that 7 survived the fall of Numenor.

    However, Sauron, like Gandalf, was a Maia. Gandalf's powers, however, were bound. (The wizards were forbidden to oppose force with force...despite the many times when it looks as if Gandalf is doing so. So perhaps there are just lots of internal inconsistencies.)

    --
    Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
    • (Score: 2) by nobu_the_bard on Monday December 10 2018, @07:39PM (1 child)

      by nobu_the_bard (6373) on Monday December 10 2018, @07:39PM (#772507)

      They weren't restricted from meeting force with force. They were restricted from using force to compel the Men and Elves to take actions. Essentially they couldn't turn themselves into warlords.

      They were sent to be advisors for the Men and Elves to counter the more warlike influences from Mordor. (Note they weren't directly charged with helping the Dwarves or Hobbits, though Gandalf seems to have dabbled in this...) Previous attempts to intervene with the Elves had lead to wars, thus the restriction on the wizards' powers.

      Saruman was not, in a sense, really breaking the rule - since it only applied to Men and Elves, and he was lording it over the Orcs. After the story he went and conquered some of the Shire - again, his restriction didn't apply to the Hobbits, so he got away with it.

      • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Tuesday December 11 2018, @03:17AM

        by Immerman (3985) on Tuesday December 11 2018, @03:17AM (#772737)

        I would think using the force of the Orcs against Men and Elves would count, even if the only action they were compelled to was dying. Still, I suppose there are a few technicalities in there they might squeeze through, if the god(s?) were pedantic about their rules.

        I really should get around to reading the Silmarillion one of these days.

    • (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday December 10 2018, @10:10PM (2 children)

      by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Monday December 10 2018, @10:10PM (#772591)

      Holy moly HiThere you might just be a nerd!
      Not criticizing, just an observation. :-)

      Now, excuse me while I figure out why Apache won't see my SSL cert.

      • (Score: 3, Funny) by Gaaark on Monday December 10 2018, @10:40PM (1 child)

        by Gaaark (41) on Monday December 10 2018, @10:40PM (#772607) Journal

        It can't see your SSL cert because your web-cam is covered...and you're not wearing the ring. Slip the ring on your finger and it'll see it, oh Yes my precious...
        :)

        --
        --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
        • (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday December 10 2018, @11:03PM

          by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Monday December 10 2018, @11:03PM (#772625)

          The thieves. The thieves. The filthy little thieves. Where is it?

          Where is it? They stole it from us.

          My precious. Curse them, we hates them!

          It's ours, it is, and we wants it!"