When did big tech undergo a societal change? I can’t imagine that the D&D nerds I hung out with in school would respond in similarly inhumane and obviously immoral ways. Google is no place for nerds anymore, „preps“ took over?
The more that are present, the more opportunities arise for that previously latent trait to become visible. It's not everybody -- far from it -- but it's more than we thought or hoped.
I suspect that your D&D group was mostly white and male, like mine. And if there were women in it, you might try asking them now about the things that they tolerated but didn't like: misogynist jokes, subjected to comments about their appearance, maybe even being assumed that they'd clean up.
I don't intend that as an accusation. It's an admission: I'm certain that this went on in my group, and I'm pretty sure I was part of it. Not that it was intolerable; they would have left if it was that bad. But it's part of my overall suggestion that it's probably not as rosy as we remember it being.
I point that out because I think the change was less about Google shifting from nerds to preps, but that the nerds are finding more opportunities to act like the preps. Not all of them, and not all the time, but enough to be a small but constant trickle.
First, you are much more empathetic (especially towards ostracized people or those shunned for nerd interests) because you know what suffering feels like, and can relate to people who are suffering. Your alarm bells will ring when there are signs of irrational decisions driven by group think. Hackers are very aware of the meaning behind principles like „don’t shoot the messenger“.
Second, your interests have shown you both utopian (Star Trek) and dystopian (1984, Blade Runner) outcomes of society, and you have discussed these possibilities in online forums or with your nerd circle (of all creatures) for nights. These patterns studied in depth are difficult to ignore and not speak up about when your company makes decisions that lead either way.
I‘d hang out and nerd around about the latest fringe obsessions with the slightly overweight guy who behaves a bit clumsily around women due to insecurity (not because he is outright sexist), but is generally reflected and tries not to do harm at any time. I’ve got a strong aversion against the borderline bullying and cocky „tech bro“ who just wants money and the privilege to control anyone he wants (including girls), never daydreamed about tech utopias, and doesn’t consider the implications of his actions (on a personal or on a societal level) in the slightest. This is likely an unconscious pattern learned in the hard way when growing up. I can’t explain some things I’m seeing in tech by anything but that those who did not live through the nerd experience bullied their way into taking over control.
I’m still working in academia and am wondering how I can find the still-nerdy circles when I have to move to industry.
Anyway, The Social Network is a pretty bad example because everyone in there already started from a privileged position, e.g. rich parents; Zuck's parents were a psychiatrist and a dentist, both at least 150K / year jobs. Harvard costs $50K a year for tuition, plus nearly $20K / year for housing.