Book Review: "Careless People"

This is a memoir by Sarah Wynn-Williams. She worked from Facebook from 2011-2017. If you use Facebook, this is an informative read. I listened to some of the book on Libby, but I read the rest in hard copy.

Like myself, Sarah went to law school. She wanted to make positive changes in the environment and human rights. She took a job in the foreign service and became a New Zealand diplomat at the UN. Quickly, she grew disillusioned about her ability to make an impact.

In 2009, she was feeling lost and homesick. She connected with friends and family on Facebook. After a friend of hers was elected to Parliament and responded to his voters on Facebook, she saw the political potential.

She became obsessed with getting a job at Facebook. She knew Facebook was going to change the world. She wanted to be a part of it. For two years, she tried to get a job at Facebook in their policy, politics, and international relations departments. In 2009, Facebook was not interested in those areas.

After being hired in 2011, she tried for six years to help Facebook change the world in positive ways and develop morals. However, Facebook was only interested in getting more users. This is an oversimplification on my part.

I have been on Facebook since around 2003. I ignored warnings not join, because I'd be sharing my data with the government. In 2003, I was not particularly worried about the government accessing my data. In 2025, I am more concerned.

According to Williams, not only do governments have my data, but advertisers also have it. I did not understand the danger of advertisers. One example, Williams explains, advertisers target teenage girls who are depressed, because they are likely to buy things when depressed. This did not bother Facebook executives. It excited them.

Not surprisingly, top level Facebook executives were engaging in discrimination and sexual harassment. They fired those who complained, like Williams. There were no complaints against Zuckerberg himself. Famous Lean In author, Sheryl Sandberg invited Williams into her bed on the company jet. Williams also endured years of sexual harassment from her direct supervisor Joel Kaplan. Not even the lawyers at Facebook pretended to care.

There are a couple interesting chapters on the 2016 election. Facebook wanted to work with politicians if it would increase their advertising revenue. They embedded staff in Trump's campaign. They used current Facebook programs and Trump's campaign database to turn misinformation, inflammatory language, and fundraising messages into a presidential victory. "In the weeks before the election, the Trump campaign was regularly one of the top advertisers on Facebook globally," said Williams.

I am still processing the implications of this book. Now that I know one side of this company, how do I proceed? Do I close my Facebook account? Should I really expect corporations to have morals? I should not. They are not people.

I am haunted by the book in context of our current state of political affairs, which to me, feels quite divisive. After Renee Good's shooting, I saw a Facebook post from a former church acquaintance. It said something like, "After Rich's murder we prayed. After Good you rioted. We are not the same." I have pondered that comment for weeks. I expended lots of mental energy trying to come up with a response.

I'm happy to report that I got over myself. I did not respond to the post. I have almost completely cut my Facebook usage. I haven't closed my account, because I guess it's still got it's hooks in me. I love Marketplace. It's an online garage sale. I can't give up "Big Island Thieves," because it is one of the best news sources on the island.

Based on my book report, you can judge whether or not this book is for you. I do encourage you to read it if you use Facebook or Instagram (now Meta). If you listen on audiobook, the author has a wonderful New Zealand accent.

Happy reading.