Last Friday was my last day at Meta as a Software Engineer, and soon it will be my last day using Meta products (WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook). Read below for more context 😇.
You can find me here: https://barac.at/ and email me here: social <at> barac.at
Important note: I’m not trying to start a movement or engage in value signaling. I’m simply sharing why I believe it’s a good idea to boycott Meta products, both as an employee and a user.
It took me some time to decide if leaving was the right choice, but it ultimately came down to a simple principle: by contributing to Meta, even in a small way, I’m supporting a company whose ethics I don’t align with. For instance, Meta has been known to silence people on its platforms [1] [2] and internally [3] when they voice opposition to its policies or unethical actions. Even though I was well-paid, enjoyed working with my team, had a great work-life balance, and I was working on Whatsapp for business (so far from the 💩), I still couldn’t shake the discomfort of being part of Meta.
Leaving the products I’ve grown accustomed to using is another important step in no longer supporting Meta. When I use WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook, I help the company make money by providing data about myself, my interests, and my connections. This data is then used to attract advertisers. And since I no longer wish to support the company, I believe it’s essential to stop using its products and switch to alternatives. Currently, I am taking gradual steps and documenting them here: On trying to escape the surveillance bubble
Signing out of the Meta-verse 😂.
(The GIF below is created by my manager and a colleague at Meta as a leaving gift 💝)
