Becoming a social empire ... re-defining how we share information

SEPTEMBER 2011 FEATURE

By KC Badala, Emily Castillo, Cate Cutcliffe, Lizzie Chadbourne, Joseph DeRose, Pierce Freeman, Taylor Galla, Matthew Geffen, Scott Hogan, John Hassen, Scotty Jacobs, Isabelle Kitze, Alexandra Kitze, Christian Kuhn, Megan Lindsay, Eliza Ross, Ashley Salinas, Danielle Slatkin, Maddy Suennen, Tyler Sylla, Bridget Went and Nell Winer - from Branson, Drake High, Marin Country Day School, Marin Academy, Marin Catholic, Mill Valley Middle, Redwood High, San Domenico, San Rafael High and Tam High Schools

image of the FastForward Adventure Reporters posed outside Facebook HeadquartersE veryone knows about the virtual Facebook “wall.” It’s a place where friends write “what’s up,” “I miss you,” or even “what’s the math homework?” and “Happy Birthday!” The real, tangible, Facebook wall is not seen by the normal public, but as reporters we got a unique look inside Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto. The real life Facebook wall is filled with colorful scribbles, signatures, and little messages, like “Facebook is great.”

All the Cool Kids Work Here
The relaxed, animated atmosphere provides an ideal place for the young workers to innovate and create new applications for the ever-evolving Facebook webpage. Facebook’s internal culture has a modern and young air. People are constantly chatting and smiling as they type away at the latest internal project at their desks or even nearby sofas. When these employees need a break, the cafés and micro-kitchens around the campus give free access to food and beverages, including an expansive lunch area. The food theme varies by day, during our interview it was the cuisine of Switzerland, which aims to keep the lunch schedule dynamic and never dull.