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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I was conflicted reading this book. On the one hand, An Ugly Truth provides a detailed history of Facebook’s 17 years as a company, and addresses many important topics. Specifically, can Facebook’s duty to society be reconciled with its duty as a growing, global company? Is there a duty at all? On the other hand, the bias of the two authors is very apparent, almost distractingly so. While I agree with Frenkel and Kang on some points, it’s worth acknowledging their own backgrounds in print media, and how its business model might not be so different from the one they disparage their digital competitor for.
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
📊 This book, independent of the material referenced, is its own divisive discussion topic. Despite exploring topics of technology, data, and privacy within the walls of Facebook - topics which are often considered intimidating or niche to those who are unfamiliar - Frenkel and Kang write in the way of investigative journalists interested in narrative voice; any reader who has used a social network will be able to engage with the book.
📆 The book explores the general timeline of Facebook's decision making, with the majority of the focus leading-up to and during a Trump administration in US politics. Many of the news stories you've read about - Cambridge Analytica, Russian election interference, engineers utilizing user data to stalk people they date, and more are covered in this book and won't necessarily be "new" information to the reader; however, through extensive research and interviews, Frenkel and Kang seemingly aim to prove that Facebook had the knowledge that these events were occurring and intentionally mislead the public on Facebook's culpability.
👻 Before going further, it should be noted that my vocation is in the technology sector. This DEFINITELY impacted my experience with this book.
📣 Imo, this book is an interesting and well-written and -organized collection of Facebook's choices. However, the conclusions made by the authors makes it seem as though they have never worked in technology; some of the inferences border on egregious or ignorant of industry norm -- and this is coming from somebody who deleted their Facebook years ago and consistently cites "ethical concerns" as a reason for denying their job interview requests. For example, the authors mention how engineers have access to too much user data with limited-to-no restriction, something that comes as a result of originally being a small start-up and never having put the resources into making the arguably necessary change. This is exceptionally true - at every company I've ever interacted with. Readers SHOULD be concerned about this because its NORMATIVE; instead, the authors look at this issue as a uniquely Facebook issue and 'shame on Zuckerberg.' There's lots to shame him for (in this book and for reasons outside of it), but the authors seemed more interested in blaming him for all decisions instead of just the ones he can and should control, which lead me to read the book as though I had unreliable narrators. I questioned everything and definitely didn't agree with many of the conclusions, but it was enjoyable to read, engage, and question nonetheless.
💭 “For the past year, the company’s data scientists had been quietly running experiments that tested how Facebook users responded when shown content that fell into one of two categories: good for the world or bad for the world. The experiments, which were posted on Facebook under the subject line “P (Bad for the World),” had reduced the visibility of posts that people considered “bad for the world.” But while they had successfully demoted them in the News Feed, therefore prompting users to see more posts that were “good for the world” when they logged into Facebook, the data scientists found that users opened Facebook far less after the changes were made.”
informative
medium-paced
informative
fast-paced
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
Want to read something super rage-inducing? Well, have I got the book for you! An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination charts the Facebook's growth and high profile mistakes over primarily the later Obama and Trump presidencies. The highlights I was pretty aware of when news broke of leaks (Cambridge Analytica), privacy concerns, when Zuckerberg testified before Congress, its role in international violence (Myanmar), and their complicity with the Russian hacks in politics. While Zuckerberg's face is cover of the book, if one flips it over, Sheryl Sandberg's face is on the other side. The authors really focus on both of their flaws and systemic issues with the company and its leadership/mission.
A emblematic example of the culture of Facebook is that Sandberg's conference room is called "Only Good News." Leadership does not want to hear about problems, and they are not proactive with addressing potential issues that can arise from their software. There is a divide between the engineers (Zuckerberg's side) and the business side (Sandberg's side) and the sides appear to be quite territorial/fractured. Mark appears unwilling to take part in topics that don't interest him, leading to him being SHOCKED when things happen he is not clued in on. Facebook tends to see issues as one-offs, and fix them as they come in, and not systemic problems to address. The willful ignorance on the consequences of their work is infuriating. The company comes across as just not caring about the ramifications of their program, and more concerned with growing their reach and the time people spend on their website. I am 0% upset about leaving Facebook years ago. Super toxic.
A emblematic example of the culture of Facebook is that Sandberg's conference room is called "Only Good News." Leadership does not want to hear about problems, and they are not proactive with addressing potential issues that can arise from their software. There is a divide between the engineers (Zuckerberg's side) and the business side (Sandberg's side) and the sides appear to be quite territorial/fractured. Mark appears unwilling to take part in topics that don't interest him, leading to him being SHOCKED when things happen he is not clued in on. Facebook tends to see issues as one-offs, and fix them as they come in, and not systemic problems to address. The willful ignorance on the consequences of their work is infuriating. The company comes across as just not caring about the ramifications of their program, and more concerned with growing their reach and the time people spend on their website. I am 0% upset about leaving Facebook years ago. Super toxic.
informative
medium-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
dark
informative
fast-paced