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Toxic for Teens? Navigating a Career in ...

Gentile, Mary, War...

Case

Toxic for Teens? Navigating a Career in the Social Media Industry (A)

Gentile, Mary; Warnell, Jessica McManus

OB-1395 | | 7 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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This case is part of the Giving Voice to Values (GVV) curriculum. To see other material in the GVV curriculum, please visit http://store.darden.virginia.edu/giving-voice-to-values. Gia is an early-career data analyst at an industry-leading social media company. When she is asked to prepare a research report presenting analysis of user data, Gia is confronted with a challenge. After conducting thoughtful research and reviewing previous reports, she is troubled by data suggesting that her company’s flagship product is negatively impacting young users. Her supervisor advises her that acting on these concerns is futile and may lead to consequences for her prospects at the company. Despite this warning, Gia wants to raise these concerns to her superiors, but she is unsure how to do so effectively. This fictionalized case addresses ethical issues around social media, data, and young users, as well as strategies for early-career employees to voice concerns to superiors.

This case set gives learners the opportunity to consider strategies for successfully voicing concerns and effecting change at work. The cases enable examination of a current issue in the social media industry—the potential for user harm—in a context that is relevant to students studying business and to early-career employees in this and other industries. The cases and discussion questions allow learners to consider the ways that individuals can navigate challenges in which their values are in conflict with what they are being asked to do, and how to motivate change in their organizations. The focus is not on whether to act on one’s values but on figuring out how to do so effectively.