On May 1st, 2023, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, was hit with a major crisis as several high-profile executives, including COO Sheryl Sandberg and CFO David Wehner, resigned from their positions. The departures come amidst a growing culture crisis at the company, with allegations of discrimination and harassment against women and people of color.

This crisis is not new to Meta. The company has faced a series of controversies over the years, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the spread of fake news and hate speech, and concerns over user privacy. But it appears that this latest crisis may be the most damaging yet, as it is not just a problem with the product or the company’s policies, but a fundamental issue with its culture and leadership.

The origins of this crisis can be traced back to the very beginning of Facebook. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, the company was initially intended as a way for college students to connect with each other. But it quickly grew into a global behemoth, with more than 2.9 billion monthly active users as of 2023.

As Facebook grew, so too did the controversies surrounding it. From the spread of fake news and hate speech to the mishandling of user data, the company has been at the center of many of the biggest issues in tech and society.

Throughout it all, Zuckerberg has been the public face of the company, and his leadership style has come under increasing scrutiny. He has been criticized for his lack of transparency, his tendency to dismiss or downplay controversies, and his authoritarian approach to management.

These criticisms have only grown louder in recent years, as employees have begun to speak out about the toxic work environment at the company. In a series of internal and external forums, employees have shared stories of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and called on the company to take action.

Zuckerberg has responded with a series of public statements and internal memos, acknowledging the problem and pledging to do better. But many employees and outside observers have been skeptical of these promises, pointing to the company’s history of broken promises and half-hearted attempts at reform.

One key issue that has contributed to the culture crisis is the company’s intense focus on growth and engagement. Facebook’s business model is built on advertising revenue, which means that it needs to keep users engaged and spending as much time as possible on the platform.

This has led to criticism that the company prioritizes profits over user safety and privacy, and that it has been too slow to address issues like hate speech and misinformation on the platform.

Zuckerberg’s response to these issues has been mixed. On the one hand, he has taken some steps to address them, such as hiring more content moderators and partnering with fact-checking organizations. On the other hand, he has resisted calls for more radical changes, such as breaking up the company or changing its business model.

Critics argue that these half-measures are insufficient, and that the company needs to take more drastic action to address the underlying issues that have led to the crisis. Some have even called for Zuckerberg to step down as CEO, arguing that his leadership style and his vision for the company are part of the problem.

The departures of Sandberg and Wehner are a blow to the company’s leadership team, and the ongoing culture crisis is likely to continue to cause problems for the company. But it is also an opportunity for Meta to address these issues head-on and make meaningful changes to its culture and leadership.

To do so, the company will need to listen to its employees and take their concerns seriously. It will need to prioritize user safety and privacy over profits, and it will need to be more transparent and accountable to its users and the public.