What Mark Zuckerberg’s ‘masculine energy’ talk could mean for Meta’s future

As the U.S. inauguration approaches, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been making strategic moves to position his company for the second Trump era. Four years ago, in response to the Jan. 6 riots, Meta banned Donald Trump from its platform. However, now the company is donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, with Zuckerberg emphasizing the need for more “masculine energy” and a corporate culture that celebrates aggression.
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg discussed the importance of embracing masculinity in the workplace. This rhetoric has raised eyebrows, especially considering the tech industry is already heavily male-dominated. With only 37.1% of Meta employees being women, Zuckerberg’s call for more masculinity has sparked concerns about diversity and inclusion within the company.
According to experts, Zuckerberg’s comments reflect a growing sentiment of “aggrieved entitlement” among men who feel threatened by the rise of diversity and inclusion efforts. This shift in rhetoric could potentially lead to a more hostile work environment for women and minority groups at Meta.
In addition to promoting a more aggressive corporate culture, Meta has made significant changes to its content moderation policies. The company has ended third-party fact-checking in the U.S. and has relaxed guidelines to allow derogatory remarks against vulnerable groups. These changes have been met with criticism from fact-checking organizations and free speech advocates.
Internally, Meta has also faced backlash for halting its diversity and inclusion efforts. The company’s decision to remove tampons from men’s restrooms and discontinue certain initiatives has raised concerns about the future of minority representation within the company.
As Meta undergoes these structural and cultural changes, some employees have expressed discontent with the direction the company is taking. The decision to align more closely with the Trump administration, along with the removal of key personnel and the introduction of new board members, has sparked speculation about Zuckerberg’s motives.
Overall, the shifts at Meta reflect a broader trend towards a more traditional and masculine corporate culture in the tech industry. However, critics warn that these changes could lead to a “slow erosion” of diversity and inclusion within the company, ultimately driving away employees and users who do not align with the new direction.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact Meta’s future and whether the company will continue down this path of embracing aggression and masculinity in its workplace culture.