Thread by @YaelEisenstat

1/ As one of the subjects in this book, I want to offer a few thoughts on the content, Facebook's response, my own personal story (yes, that part is somewhat self-indulgent), and the authors @sheeraf and @ceciliakang. A thread:
harpercollins.com/products/an-ug…

2/ On the book: by now it’s hard to dispute Facebook’s role in affecting discourse & democracy. But the authors spoke to more employees than any other account and show the receipts. The pattern of negligence, deflecting responsibility, choosing “company over country” is stark.

3/ On Facebook’s response: Shame on them. Honestly, that’s all I can say. If being angry that Facebook leaders put their business over democracy makes me disgruntled, then fine, call me that. But what about the 400 others interviewed? How about an ounce of self-reflection?

4/ On my own story & decision to speak up: Shortly after Facebook fired me, I sat on my couch debating whether to sign the non-disparagement agreement and take a severance package when a news story hit CNN about @sheeraf & @ceciliakang's explosive article “Delay, Deny, Deflect”.

5/ It solidified what I knew in my gut: FB had made intentional decisions that harmed democracy. I'd taken the job w/ a grain of cautious optimism that I could help make a difference. The gaslighting while I was there was intense and at times made me question my own competence.

6/ I emailed FB that day & said I would not sign the papers. For a company who declares to care so deeply about free speech, I was disgusted by how strictly they were trying to stifle mine.
For the next 7 months I kept quiet, struggling with whether to speak about my experience.

7/ For an individual with no institutional or financial backing to speak out against the most powerful company in the world is not an easy choice. I turned down all media requests and sought counsel from my closest friends and confidants. To be frank, it was a dark period.

8/ It took 8 months for me to speak publicly, finally telling some of my story here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wit…

9/ So when Facebook PR tries to paint people like me as “disgruntled” or, as they have directly told journalists, “someone who is just trying to make a name for herself based on her short time here”, it makes me even more indignant.

10/ For one of the richest, most powerful companies on earth to paint me as self-promoting, or choosing “self-selected truths”, affects how others view me, my future employment prospects, my reputation, and even my safety. It's also one reason why many remain silent or anonymous.

11/ For 3 years it was my word against FB's. Theirs comes with way more $, power and influence than I'll ever have. So pardon the self-indulgence, but on a personal level, this book gave me closure. It validated what I knew to be true: I tried my best, but I was set up to fail.

12/ And no matter how much Facebook PR tries to discredit me, I can retain my sense of self and integrity. That's a gift @sheeraf & @ceciliakang gave me. Sadly, we cannot hold these companies accountable if people are silenced, shamed, or scared into not speaking truth to power.

13/ On the authors: They put in the work. I’ve had dozens of journalists reach out. Few understood that I was drowning in my own anxiety about it all, and without much support. A handful went the extra step of gaining my trust and understanding the personal toll. These two did.

14/ In summary: read this book if you want to understand the dynamics, culture & decision-making inside one of the most powerful companies on earth. It's a company with unchecked power, making decisions that affect our health, safety and democracy. We have a right to know.