Opinion: Four steps to fix Facebook, courtesy of Frances Haugen

Former Facebook employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Oct 5, 2021, in Washington. — AP

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 synthesise 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,’” Sen. John Thune said.