Meta's Internal Struggles: A Department-by-Department Breakdown
Meta, one of the world's largest and most influential tech companies, has long been the subject of both admiration and criticism. While it continues to push boundaries in areas such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and social media, its internal dynamics reveal a more complex picture. Each department within Meta faces unique challenges and exhibits distinct work cultures, from competitive, fast-paced environments to others known for inefficiencies and isolated operations. This article delves into the inner workings of Meta's departments, exposing their struggles and successes.
1. ADS Department: Empire Building in an Isolated Kingdom
The ADS (Ads) department of Meta has been described as an "independent kingdom," operating with minimal oversight from the rest of the company. This department saw rapid growth during and before the pandemic, with promotions coming fast and easy for those who were part of the team prior to 2016. Many rose through the ranks based on timing rather than personal contributions, leading to a leadership structure that doesn't always match talent with responsibility.
In a bid to expand its influence, the ADS department frequently bypasses existing infrastructure, opting instead to build its own tools and systems under the guise of being "ADS-specific." This empire-building approach has led to inefficiencies, with internal competition and redundant systems becoming the norm. Interestingly, these systems were often created not out of necessity but as a means for employees to secure promotions. Once their goal was achieved, many leaders left, leaving behind a tangled web of outdated tools and systems that new teams must now untangle.
2. Facebook Department: A Chaotic Legacy
Once Meta's flagship product, the Facebook department has devolved into a chaotic and cluttered environment. The app has become bloated with features, many of which are rarely used by the platform's diminishing user base. The cluttered interface, filled with unnecessary tabs and functions, reflects the disarray within the department itself.
This department has seen significant layoffs as Meta recognizes the need to streamline its resources. However, the damage has already been done; the Facebook app has almost reached the point of no return, drawing comparisons to other legacy platforms like "Skype." For those unfortunate enough to find themselves in this department, career prospects within Meta may appear grim.
3. Instagram, Reels, and Threads: Survival of the Fittest
Instagram, Reels, and Threads represent Meta's most competitive product lines, where the work culture is defined by relentless drive and high-pressure expectations. The leadership within Instagram, in particular, is known for its strict control over team size and expansion, ensuring that every decision is strategic and top-down. However, the competition within the organization is fierce, and employees are constantly under pressure to outperform their peers.
For example, Instagram's ad-ranking team is in a constant race with Facebook's ad-ranking team. Losing to Facebook results in all-night work sessions to outperform them next time. This perpetual grind creates a high-stress environment, leading some new hires to leave due to the intensity. Remarkably, despite the prominence of Instagram and its related features, the Threads development team consists of just 17 engineers, highlighting the lean but highly productive nature of the team.
4. Reality Labs: Meta’s Protected Pet
Reality Labs (RL), which leads Meta’s efforts in virtual and augmented reality, enjoys a privileged position within the company. Despite widespread layoffs across Meta, RL has remained largely untouched. It benefits from direct support from Meta's CTO, receiving headcount (HC) and resources that other departments can only dream of. Even when cuts were announced, RL's "layoffs" mostly affected unfilled positions rather than existing employees.
While Meta's VR initiatives, including Oculus, have gained traction, its AR projects have struggled. The Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses, for example, have seen poor sales, relying heavily on internal Meta purchases to stay afloat. Nonetheless, RL remains a protected asset due to its importance in Meta's long-term vision, even as some projects fail to meet expectations.
5. Privacy Department: A Comfortable but Stagnant Role
The Privacy department at Meta offers a relatively comfortable work environment, making it an attractive place for employees looking for stability. This department, driven by external regulatory requirements, operates like a tree with a central trunk of privacy concerns and multiple branches representing different privacy teams within the organization.
However, the rapid expansion of the Privacy department during the pandemic created issues. The demand for new projects outweighed the available work, leading the team to invent new processes, including the concept of "user friction." As a result, the department became known for manufacturing problems that it could then solve, ensuring job security but offering little in terms of meaningful innovation.
6. AI Department: A High-Stakes Operation with Internal Challenges
Meta's AI department plays a critical role, particularly in its ad-ranking systems, which drive much of the company’s revenue. While generative AI has recently gained attention, most AI resources are still dedicated to improving advertising algorithms. The team responsible for AI infrastructure often creates proprietary tools, much like the ADS department, but these tools are not always of high quality.
The AI teams are often described as a "machine fortune-telling" operation, constantly tweaking models in the hopes of hitting performance targets. However, the department faces growing pains, as many of its team members are relatively new and lack experience, leading to immature design decisions and underperforming systems.
7. WhatsApp and Messenger: A Calm Before the Storm
WhatsApp and Messenger, Meta’s popular communication apps, have so far avoided the intense competition and restructuring seen in other departments. Both platforms enjoy a work-life balance that other teams at Meta can only envy. This calm stems largely from the fact that neither app has yet found a sustainable monetization model, meaning there is less pressure to deliver immediate results.
However, this period of stability may not last forever. Meta is actively seeking ways to monetize WhatsApp and Messenger, and once a strategy is in place, the relaxed work environment could change rapidly. The uncertainty surrounding the future of these apps has left some employees wondering how long the good times will last.
8. Infrastructure (Infra) Department: The Unsung Hero
Meta’s Infrastructure department, often referred to as “the rice” that sustains the company, plays a crucial yet largely unrecognized role. The department is filled with highly skilled employees, but it operates behind the scenes, ensuring the smooth running of Meta's platforms. As a result, it doesn't receive the same level of attention or praise as more customer-facing teams.
While the department is not highly competitive, the low visibility can be a challenge for new hires, who struggle to make an impact in a team dominated by long-standing employees. Nevertheless, the work done by the Infra team is indispensable, even if it often goes unnoticed.
Conclusion
Meta's internal workings paint a picture of a company with distinct cultures and challenges across its many departments. From the fiercely competitive Instagram team to the quietly essential Infrastructure department, each part of Meta faces unique struggles. The company's shifting priorities and internal power dynamics continue to shape the experiences of its employees, providing insight into the complexities of running one of the world's largest tech giants.