Zuckerberg is not going anywhere!

 This year, 2024, marks two decades since the founding of the massive social media platform Facebook, now known as Meta. This big tech was coming from a small objective: to build connections with classmates. Fast forward to 2020; the goal is bigger (and beyond). “My goal for the next decade isn’t to be liked but to be understood. In order to be trusted, people need to know what you stand for,” said Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, while addressing investors on a 2020 conference call (Agnihotri and Bhattacharya, 2022:1). It is not solely huge; it becomes crazier.

The fact that there are (still and counting) a lot of users supports this ambition. According to Statista (2024), Facebook users worldwide were forecast to continuously grow between 2023 and 2027, with a total of 391 million users (+14.36%). Facebook’s business model is focused entirely on increasing growth and user engagement. Its algorithms are extremely effective at doing so. However, the steps Facebook has taken, for instance, building AI filters or partnering with independent fact-checkers, are superficial and toothless (Lauer, 2021:141).

Zuckerberg and his infinite ambition!
Photo credit to tekedia.com 

Therefore, it will be unattainable for Facebook to scale and shift its ethics in this digital realm to be better for its users: no mass data collection and privacy invasion with Cambridge Analytica; no accusations of Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election; no hate speech genocide in Myanmar; or no viral spread of disinformation about COVID-19. In my perspective, this is unachievable. Facebook is way too far from its initial mission. They have sucked a lot from the users who are laboring for their business. They have been capitalists at their finest. And they are unwilling and unable to stop.

Obsession with power and crafting top-level as well as subordinate management teams are the ultimate characteristics of Zuckerberg. One tangible aspect is his high voting power (53%) and company class B stock (82%). Therefore, in order to balance his power, he has to lower his ego (or step down from this throne), be more diverse in management composition decided by merit, not relationship, have objective restrictions that apply to anyone, including Zuckerberg itself (not immune), and balance the voting power. Without that, Zuckerberg will remain in his current position.

There is a comment from @tommyharris5817 on YouTube titled, “‘So you won’t take down lies?’: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez challenges Facebook CEO” said, “If I were him, I would sell the company and just enjoy myself. No more stress or facing interrogations!”. Unfortunately, Zuckerberg is not @tommyharris5817. He won’t stop, but at least he should learn the meaning of enough and one day know when he should stop. Furthermore, if I were to portray myself as the CEO, I would like to resemble Tobias Lutke as my role model. Tobias Lutke, or Tobi, is the founder and CEO of Shopify, a user-friendly e-commerce platform that allows small businesses build an online store and sell online through one streamlined dashboard. Even though the business model is not identical to Facebook's, Zuckerberg can acquire knowledge of Tobi’s leadership and communications style.

As a leader, Tobi intends to have a results-driven nature, champion change, and empower others. Shopify’s $42.3% billion market capitalization is now larger than that of many big tech brands, including Snap, Square, and Lyft. In addition, Lutke just owns 6% of Shopify, which went public in 2015. His persistent focus on excellence is the ultimate reason why Shopify has succeeded. Moreover, Lutke believes that a happy work culture creates greater employee engagement and better company results. Thus, he hired a Chief Culture and Design Officer in order to obtain proper guidance, feedback, and support for the company and its employees.

As cited on boldbusiness.com, David Weinand, Chief Culture and Design Officer, said, “Sometimes it feels like he is going a few years into the future and is coming back with positive information and sharing it with us.” Tobi is not a perfect leader; there are none in the world. However, he shows us the best qualities of a leader: visionary, bold, and humble. If I were the CEO of Facebook, I would follow his steps. And in the 10, 20, or longer time ahead, when Facebook’s journey is going and beyond, Facebook will remain the huge tech with a strong root and a down-to-earth leader. Sounds impossible, though. 


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