there are some people who are apologetic that they've worked at FAANGMULA+ like Tristan Harris at google, susan fowler at uber
I think you really should watch Tristan documentary the social dilemma to see what many "lay people" think (the opposite of high regard and awe)
Faang companies impact Is not equal
Facebook is not apple and not google.
Working on Facebook Oculus is in no way equivalent to the culture surrounding google's deep mind.
They are serving drastically different communities.
I think people who are truly conscientious will not care about branding as much as the value of the work they are producing, they will be able to think about it objectively separate from the company brand, they will be okay with working without a big name, and no attention because they trust their own judgment.
this is precisely why I still believe startups have more potential energy than established corporations, regardless of what the cynics think.
when I see anyone thinking about glitz and glamour before what they will actually be doing, I lose trust in their judgment.
impact on project > company brand
Otherwise, to non-tech laypeople and average SWEs, I'd say anyone who is a SWE at Google or any FAANG(MULA+) are held in extremely high regard and awe.
It probably has lost a bit of its shine to be honest. But it's still exceptionally shiny if you compare it to what else is out there. Remember the overwhelming majority of SWEs are not employed at FAANG or other top tech companies. They're employed at places like Wells Fargo or Home Depot or Bank of America. These people would be jumping up and down ecstatic to be offered a chance to work at Google.
If there is one company that seems to have lost a lot of shine for a SWE career in the past few years, I'd say it's Amazon?