Theory on facebook failure/Google failure to innovate:
They have the highest leetcode standards out of FAANG. As does Snap. They hire people that basically memorized computer science algorithms. And so their employees are bookish, not innovative people. Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon do not have the same issues with creating new products.
Keith Rabois (top VC), mentioned that FB has always prioritized optimization over new products because of the Ad business. That also could explain their inability to do anything but copy other business ideas.
The opposing point of view would be that Ads on FB/Google are so profitable that working on anything else pales in comparision (in terms of profit generation). And so they dont innovate, but iterate and optimize.
My vote is that excessive leetcode testing selects for employees with no creativity. And while these companies are massive, lower level engineers hired ten years ago do rise to the top and run whole divisions
EDIT:
Counterpoint on how good early Google employees were:
the above maxim does not apply because that was before leetcode became huge, people passing those interviews were actually brilliant, they didnt spend six months studying in a basement
They have the highest leetcode standards out of FAANG. As does Snap. They hire people that basically memorized computer science algorithms. And so their employees are bookish, not innovative people. Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon do not have the same issues with creating new products.
Keith Rabois (top VC), mentioned that FB has always prioritized optimization over new products because of the Ad business. That also could explain their inability to do anything but copy other business ideas.
The opposing point of view would be that Ads on FB/Google are so profitable that working on anything else pales in comparision (in terms of profit generation). And so they dont innovate, but iterate and optimize.
My vote is that excessive leetcode testing selects for employees with no creativity. And while these companies are massive, lower level engineers hired ten years ago do rise to the top and run whole divisions
EDIT:
Counterpoint on how good early Google employees were:
the above maxim does not apply because that was before leetcode became huge, people passing those interviews were actually brilliant, they didnt spend six months studying in a basement