WHEN it debuted on the internet in 2004, Facebook seemed like a revolutionary innovation. A way for millions of people to engage with one another on a central virtual platform. It was free communication at your fingertips. But as more bombshells pertaining to the mega-giant tech company have hit the news in recent weeks, we now see that nothing was free or revolutionary.

It’s clearer now that we, the users of Facebook, are actually the company’s product, sold to the highest advertising bidder and placed at the mercy of an algorithm that incites human hate in the name of increasing “engagement.” Judging by recently leaked evidence, Facebook doesn’t care about you, your grandmother, or your cat videos. And on top of that, its growing influence and monopoly power pose a real danger to democracy and our society as a whole.

Earlier this month, data scientist Frances Haugen came forward as the Facebook whistleblower. Having previously worked for the company, Haugen shared a trove of internal documents and gave several interviews the past few weeks showing that whenever there was a conflict between the interests of the company and the public good, the social media giant would choose its own interests.