4 Steps to Fix Facebook, Courtesy of Frances Haugen
The former product manager’s laser focus on rolling back addictive algorithms is the straightforward guidance lawmakers need.
Frances Haugen was able to spell out Facebook’s problems clearly.
Photographer: Matt McClain (pool)/Getty Images
At a congressional hearing on Tuesday, former Facebook Inc. product manager Frances Haugen didn’t need to convince lawmakers that the company has a big problem. Republicans and Democrats were, for once, united on her side, at several points even calling her a “hero.” What they needed was direction. Luckily, Haugen gave that to them.
Throughout the hearing she used the term “engagement-based ranking” to synthesize the complexities of Facebook’s problems into a single, neutral term. The lawmakers tried saying it themselves. “We’ve learned … that Facebook conducts what’s called ‘engagement-based ranking’?” Senator John Thune asked tentatively.