Is Meta Boss Mark Zuckerberg Following Elon Musk's MAGA Playbook To Promote Pro-Trump Sentiments? A Closer Look
Tech CEOs like Zuckerberg and Musk are said to favour "their own speech or their own political preferences and not the actual entire user or the community's speech."
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is facing scrutiny for recent policy shifts, with CNN’s chief media analyst Brian Stelter likening his moves to those of Elon Musk and dubbing them a “MAGA makeover.”
During a segment on Tuesday, Stelter suggested that Zuckerberg’s decision to move Meta’s content moderation team from California to Texas was aimed at appealing to conservative audiences and reducing perceptions of liberal bias. Stelter criticised this move, saying tech leaders often prioritise their own political preferences over fostering balanced platforms.
“Oftentimes, it seems that these tech CEOs actually are favouring or preferring a certain kind of speech,” Stelter stated. "They‘re favouring their own speech or their own political preferences and not the actual entire user or the community‘s speech.”
Zuck Following Musk’s Playbook?
Stelter noted that Zuckerberg’s recent actions mirror Musk’s strategies, particularly in fostering ties with US President-elect Donald Trump. Meta’s recent announcement to replace its fact-checking initiative with a community-based moderation system — a setup similar to Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter) — has drawn comparisons between the two tech moguls.
ALSO READ: Meta Buries Third-Party Fact-Checking Programme, Replaces It With Community Notes Akin To X
Musk had also relocated X's headquarters to Texas, a move Stelter believes influenced Zuckerberg's decision.
Both Musk and Zuckerberg claim to champion free speech, but their actions often elevate pro-Trump narratives, Stelter argued, adding that these strategies might attract conservative users but alienate liberals.
Aligning with Trump’s Circle?
Zuckerberg’s relationship with Trump appears to be warming. Last month, he pledged $1 million to Trump’s upcoming inauguration and recently appointed Dana White, a Trump ally and UFC CEO, to Meta’s board of directors.
Critics see these moves as attempts to curry favour with the incoming administration.
Musk’s Controversial Content Choices
Stelter also directed criticism at Musk, highlighting his posts about sexual abuse cases in the UK, some of which date back decades. “They are horrible stories, but oftentimes it seems like Musk is coming in like a brand new college freshman, brand new to a subject, as if he‘s found out about it for the first time,” Stelter remarked.
Musk’s recent announcement of an algorithm update for X to prioritise positive and engaging content over negativity also caught Stelter’s attention. The timing, just before Trump’s inauguration, raised eyebrows. “He wants more positive content and less negative content, even as he posts about gangs and about rape and other very negative subjects. it is notable that just as Trump is about to take office, Musk says he wants more positivity, more positivity and less negativity,” Stelter said.
Shift In Strategies
As Meta and X make controversial changes under Zuckerberg and Musk, critics like Stelter argue that these shifts reflect a deeper alignment with conservative ideologies.
Whether these moves succeed in reshaping the platforms’ user bases remains to be seen, but they have undoubtedly sparked significant debate.
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