The sexist and homophobic turn of Mark Zuckerberg is a sign of the times
And it's not a surprise, unfortunately
January 15th, 2025
The new Facebook rules
What are they, and what are the consequences? Essentially, the changes involve a significant reduction in moderation policies on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, particularly in the U.S. Third-party fact-checking will be replaced by community notes, similar to Twitter. Notably, however, social media has focused on the fact that the new Community Standards regarding Hate Speech Behavior now allow "accusations of mental illness or abnormality based on gender or sexual orientation in political or religious discussions about transgenderism and homosexuality, as well as the casual use of words like 'weird'," which previously would have resulted in content removal. To top it off, LGBTQ+ themes and flags have been removed from Messenger.
Mark Zuckerberg and masculine energy
These changes seem to reflect not only the times but also Mark Zuckerberg’s conveniently timed personal rebranding. His recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast—a TV commentator known for being anti-science and closely aligned with Trumpian views—is a case in point. On the podcast, Zuckerberg declared: "The corporate world is castrated. Masculine energy is positive, and society has plenty of it, but corporate culture tries to eliminate it. I think a society that celebrates aggression a bit more has its merits." He went on to describe how martial arts helped him redefine his masculinity and how sparring with his male friends has been "a positive experience."
Not exactly what you’d hope to hear from one of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful men—especially at a time when we are not only seeing a conservative and sexist shift, but also living under a more aggressive patriarchy, terrified of potential pushback that is increasingly being stifled. Worse still, his statement rests on a false premise, given that 90% of CEOs at the world’s wealthiest companies are white men—a status quo that has persisted for over a decade. The expression "masculine energy," which could potentially be positive in a general sense, takes on a sinister tone in this context—evoking aggression, a return to the past, and a reestablishment of order. We are disappointed, but not surprised.
The birth of Facebook
Is it surprising for a man to seek to maximize his power? A white male CEO jumping on the bandwagon of the ruling power to not miss out on any of the benefits is neither revolutionary nor groundbreaking. In Mark Zuckerberg’s case, his origins offer a revealing glimpse. Before Facebook, there was Facemash, which invited Harvard students to rate their peers based on their appearance in photos. According to his roommate, Arie Hasit, the "face book" was originally a site that displayed student photos and required users to choose the most attractive. The votes then generated a ranking. A universe built on traditional beauty standards—albeit a youthful idea—takes on a different light in the face of recent developments. It stands as the first building block—a distant omen—of a new era for private social platforms, where rules are dictated by the platform owners, influencing users in the name of free speech that serves only the rich and powerful.