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Facebook Wants to Close the Diversity Gap in Tech

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Let's face it: Computer science has a diversity problem. Tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter — just to name a few — are still predominantly staffed by white males.

One of the main reasons is that those in Black and Hispanic communities aren't getting much exposure to computer science and careers in technology, and those who are interested in the field often lack the resources to learn more, according to Facebook's Global Director of Diversity, Maxine Williams.

The social network wants to change that, so it has launched a new site where underrepresented groups can learn more about computer science and find resources to help them get started. Dubbed TechPrep, the hub was designed for English and Spanish speakers and includes "hundreds of resources," organized by age range, skill level, and the kind of information needed.

That includes games, books, information about upcoming community events, and in-person opportunities. Learners can also get inspired by reading profiles of real people pursuing careers in computer science while parents and guardians can find resources to help guide their kids.

Recent research from consultancy McKinsey revealed that 50 percent of Blacks and 42 percent of Hispanics say they would be good at working with computers, compared to 35 percent of Whites and 35 percent of Asians, according to Williams. However, 77 percent of parents said they don't know how to help their child pursue computer science.

"Being encouraged to pursue computer science by a parent or guardian is a primary motivator for women, Blacks and Hispanics," Williams wrote. "By exposing people to computer science and programming and guiding them to the resources they need to get started, we hope to reduce some of the barriers that block potential from meeting opportunity."

Several companies has committed millions this year to boost diversity, from Apple's $50 million to Intel's $300 million.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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