Google is reportedly making changes to its popular internal message board, Memegen, due to increased fighting among employees over the war in Gaza. According to a report in The New York Times, Memegen has been a place for Google employees to blow off steam, share jokes, and offer critiques of the company for nearly 14 years. However, recent debates about the war in Gaza prompted Google to take action.
Some of the biggest changes Google is making to the message board include the removal of the thumbs-down button and metrics that show how popular memes are. The company stated that these changes, set to take effect later this year, are based on employee feedback that thumbs down votes make workers feel bad and the metrics make the message board too competitive.
The changes come after a perceived increase in negativity and bickering on Memegen, particularly surrounding the war in Gaza. Google views coordinated down-voting as a bullying tactic and implemented the changes after a rise in employee complaints in late 2023.
Despite the changes, employees will still be able to post and comment on Memegen, with lighthearted ribbing of the company still allowed. However, attacking individuals or using abusive language will still be against the rules.
Some employees are worried that the changes will stifle free speech and turn Memegen into a boring corporate message board, reflecting a larger tension between Google’s outspoken employees and executives trying to rein in the company’s culture. The history of Memegen and its role in providing real-time commentary on company events is also detailed in the report.