Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence could soon become as common as smartphones. Speaking during Meta’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, Zuckerberg said it is difficult to imagine a future where most people are not wearing AI-enabled glasses.His comments come as Meta shifts its focus away from the metaverse and puts more money and effort into AI wearables and its own artificial intelligence models.&nbsp;<h2>Meta is betting on AI glasses</h2>He compared today’s moment to the early days of smartphones. He said billions of people already wear glasses or contact lenses, making eyewear a natural place for new technology to grow.“I think we’re at a moment similar to when smartphones arrived,” Zuckerberg said during the earnings call. He added that just as basic mobile phones were replaced by smartphones, traditional glasses could be replaced by AI-powered ones.Sales of Meta smart glasses tripled over the past year. Zuckerberg described them as among the fastest-growing consumer electronics products, though he did not share exact sales figures.<h2>Tech giants line up for smart glasses</h2>Meta is not alone in betting on smart glasses. According to reports, Google is expected to launch its own smart glasses later this year after a $150 million partnership with eyewear brand Warby Parker. Apple is also said to be working on smart glasses, with Bloomberg reporting that some employees have been moved to the project.Snap recently announced that it is spinning off its AR glasses business, Specs, into a separate unit to improve focus. Even OpenAI is exploring wearable devices, though its interest appears to be in smaller gadgets like AI pins or earbuds rather than glasses.This growing interest suggests that AI wearables are becoming a key area of competition across the tech industry.<h2>From metaverse to practical wearables</h2>Meta’s push into smart glasses follows years of heavy spending on the metaverse through its Reality Labs division. That unit has reported large losses, including billions of dollars in a single quarter, according to company filings.While Zuckerberg’s earlier vision of people socialising and working in virtual worlds did not take off, smart glasses are seen as more practical. Meta already sells several models, including sports-focused glasses designed for activities like running and cycling.For now, Meta appears to be leading the consumer market. Whether AI glasses become as essential as smartphones remains uncertain, but the company is clearly placing a long-term bet on them.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says AI-powered smart glasses could soon be as common as smartphones. Meta is shifting focus from the metaverse to practical AI wearables, with smart glasses sales tripling and rivals like Google, Apple and Snap entering the race.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes smart glasses powered by artificial intelligence could soon become as common as smartphones. Speaking during Meta’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, Zuckerberg said it is difficult to imagine a future where most people are not wearing AI-enabled glasses. His comments come as Meta shifts its focus away from the metaverse and puts more money and effort into AI wearables and its own artificial intelligence models. Meta is betting on AI glasses He compared today’s moment to the early days of smartphones. He said billions of people already wear glasses or contact lenses, making eyewear a natural place for new technology to grow. “I think we’re at a moment similar to when smartphones arrived,” Zuckerberg said during the earnings call. He added that just as basic mobile phones were replaced by smartphones, traditional glasses could be replaced by AI-powered ones. Sales of Meta smart glasses tripled over the past year. Zuckerberg described them as among the fastest-growing consumer electronics products, though he did not share exact sales figures. Tech giants line up for smart glasses Meta is not alone in betting on smart glasses. According to reports, Google is expected to launch its own smart glasses later this year after a $150 million partnership with eyewear brand Warby Parker. Apple is also said to be working on smart glasses, with Bloomberg reporting that some employees have been moved to the project. Snap recently announced that it is spinning off its AR glasses business, Specs, into a separate unit to improve focus. Even OpenAI is exploring wearable devices, though its interest appears to be in smaller gadgets like AI pins or earbuds rather than glasses. This growing interest suggests that AI wearables are becoming a key area of competition across the tech industry. From metaverse to practical wearables Meta’s push into smart glasses follows years of heavy spending on the metaverse through its Reality Labs division. That unit has reported large losses, including billions of dollars in a single quarter, according to company filings. While Zuckerberg’s earlier vision of people socialising and working in virtual worlds did not take off, smart glasses are seen as more practical. Meta already sells several models, including sports-focused glasses designed for activities like running and cycling. For now, Meta appears to be leading the consumer market. Whether AI glasses become as essential as smartphones remains uncertain, but the company is clearly placing a long-term bet on them.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says AI-powered smart glasses could soon be as common as smartphones. Meta is shifting focus from the metaverse to practical AI wearables, with smart glasses sales tripling and rivals like Google, Apple and Snap entering the race.

Why Mark Zuckerberg says a future without smart glasses is ‘hard to imagine’

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says artificial intelligence will define the next phase of social media; in the future, it will change how people create and consume content on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Speaking during Meta’s latest earnings call, Zuckerberg said AI will power new media formats that are more immersive, interactive and personalised than anything seen before.He said social media has evolved with technology, first moving from text to photos, then to video. The next shift, he said, will be driven by AI-generated content that combines text, images and video in new ways.<h2>AI could change content on Facebook and Instagram</h2>He explained that advances in artificial intelligence will allow social media platforms to better understand users and generate content tailored to individual interests. Unlike current recommendation systems, future AI tools could create personalised posts, images and videos rather than only showing existing content.“Soon, we’ll see an explosion of new media formats that are more immersive and interactive, and only possible because of advances in AI,” Zuckerberg said during the call.He added that users may be able to create digital worlds, games and interactive experiences using AI tools, and then share or remix them with friends. These experiences, according to Meta, would allow people to engage with content rather than just scroll past it.<h2>AI content already appearing on Meta platforms</h2>AI-generated images and videos are already visible across Meta’s apps. The Meta AI app, for example, includes a feed where users can scroll through short AI-generated videos in a format similar to TikTok. However, this has also led to criticism, with many users referring to low-quality AI visuals as “AI slop”.While Zuckerberg did not directly address these concerns, he stressed that AI would improve over time and enable more meaningful forms of expression. Meta believes better tools and stronger controls will help improve the quality of AI-generated content.<h2>AI replaces the metaverse as Meta’s main focus</h2>Notably, Zuckerberg did not highlight the metaverse during the earnings call. Meta’s Reality Labs division, which oversees virtual reality and Horizon Worlds, reported an operating loss of $6.02 billion for the quarter. In contrast, Meta posted $59.9 billion in revenue and $22.8 billion in profit, reflecting strong growth driven largely by AI-related products and advertising.The shift suggests that Meta is now placing its long-term bets on artificial intelligence rather than virtual reality. According to Zuckerberg, AI-generated content and tools will play a central role in keeping users engaged and driving the company’s next stage of growth.As social media platforms compete for attention, Meta is betting that AI-created content rather than traditional posts will shape how people connect online in the years ahead

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says AI-generated content will drive the next phase of social media. From personalised posts to interactive experiences, AI will reshape how users create and consume content on Facebook and Instagram, replacing the metaverse as Meta’s core focus.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says artificial intelligence will define the next phase of social media; in the future, it will change how people create and consume content on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Speaking during Meta’s latest earnings call, Zuckerberg said AI will power new media formats that are more immersive, interactive and personalised than anything seen before. He said social media has evolved with technology, first moving from text to photos, then to video. The next shift, he said, will be driven by AI-generated content that combines text, images and video in new ways. AI could change content on Facebook and Instagram He explained that advances in artificial intelligence will allow social media platforms to better understand users and generate content tailored to individual interests. Unlike current recommendation systems, future AI tools could create personalised posts, images and videos rather than only showing existing content. “Soon, we’ll see an explosion of new media formats that are more immersive and interactive, and only possible because of advances in AI,” Zuckerberg said during the call. He added that users may be able to create digital worlds, games and interactive experiences using AI tools, and then share or remix them with friends. These experiences, according to Meta, would allow people to engage with content rather than just scroll past it. AI content already appearing on Meta platforms AI-generated images and videos are already visible across Meta’s apps. The Meta AI app, for example, includes a feed where users can scroll through short AI-generated videos in a format similar to TikTok. However, this has also led to criticism, with many users referring to low-quality AI visuals as “AI slop”. While Zuckerberg did not directly address these concerns, he stressed that AI would improve over time and enable more meaningful forms of expression. Meta believes better tools and stronger controls will help improve the quality of AI-generated content. AI replaces the metaverse as Meta’s main focus Notably, Zuckerberg did not highlight the metaverse during the earnings call. Meta’s Reality Labs division, which oversees virtual reality and Horizon Worlds, reported an operating loss of $6.02 billion for the quarter. In contrast, Meta posted $59.9 billion in revenue and $22.8 billion in profit, reflecting strong growth driven largely by AI-related products and advertising. The shift suggests that Meta is now placing its long-term bets on artificial intelligence rather than virtual reality. According to Zuckerberg, AI-generated content and tools will play a central role in keeping users engaged and driving the company’s next stage of growth. As social media platforms compete for attention, Meta is betting that AI-created content rather than traditional posts will shape how people connect online in the years ahead

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says AI-generated content will drive the next phase of social media. From personalised posts to interactive experiences, AI will reshape how users create and consume content on Facebook and Instagram, replacing the metaverse as Meta’s core focus.

AI-generated content will shape the future of social media, says Mark Zuckerberg

A recent lawsuit in the US claims that WhatsApp can read private or encrypted messages, basing its arguments on whistleblower revelations. Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg–led parent company of WhatsApp which also owns Facebook and Instagram, has strongly rejected these claims. The lawsuit’s claim about ‘whistleblowers’ is yet to be substantiated, as they are not named. Nevertheless, the case has brought renewed attention to the reliability of WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption (E2EE).<h2>What is WhatsApp’s encryption technology?</h2>E2EE uses the widely respected Signal protocol, a golden standard considered secure by experts. WhatsApp has often resisted government requests to decrypt chats, and there have been no known backdoor entries that allow the company or third parties to access message content. Enabled by default in WhatsApp, the E2EE encryption keys are stored only on users’ devices, theoretically preventing Meta from decrypting messages in transit or on servers. While metadata, such as who sent a message to whom, can be collected, the system is generally considered robust and capable of ensuring privacy and secrecy for users.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meta-tiktok-youtube-face-court-case-over-social-media-addiction-in-children-1769486751202/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/meta-tiktok-youtube-face-court-case-over-social-media-addiction-in-children-1769486751202/embed</a><h2>What is the new case against Meta on WhatsApp message encryption?</h2>An international group of plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa filed the lawsuit on January 24 at the US District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. They are seeking 'global class action' status for their complaint, aiming to represent billions of WhatsApp users across the world.The suit claims that Meta and WhatsApp ‘mislead users by advertising E2EE, while secretly storing, analysing and accessing virtually all private communications’.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/meta-launches-2-variants-of-ai-enabled-smart-glasses-price-features-revealed-1758186792998">Meta launches 2 variants of AI-enabled smart glasses: Price, features&nbsp;revealed</a>&nbsp;Employees can allegedly request such access via an internal system, which apparently involves sending a “task” to engineers who grant access without scrutiny.The messages, the lawsuit claims, can be viewed in real time through a widget using a user’s ID.Past messages since an account was created could be accessed with no decryption needed, contradicting Meta’s promises that only senders and recipients can read messages, the suit claims.According to reports, the lawsuit argues that Meta’s alleged conduct amounts to 'fraud on billions of users worldwide' who rely on WhatsApp’s privacy assurances. &nbsp;It is seeking damages and injunctive relief.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/who-is-vishal-shah-meta-ceo-zuckerberg-appoints-head-project-management-for-ai-division-1761634315870">Who Is Vishal Shah? Meta CEO Zuckerberg appoints head of project management for AI Division</a>The lawsuit cited unnamed ‘courageous whistleblowers’ as the source of these revelations.&nbsp; Among other things, it alleged that non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) at Meta are suppressing this information from becoming public.However, the lawsuit provides no names or roles of the whistleblowers, or specific evidence or technical information in the complaint.<h2>Meta rejects claims as false and absurd</h2>Calling the allegations categorically false, absurd, and a “frivolous work of fiction”, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said WhatsApp has used the Signal protocol for E2EE for nearly a decade.Meta also vowed to seek sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers, and fight the lawsuit from the beginning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A US lawsuit claimed that Meta misled users by saying WhatsApp chats are private. It alleged that staff can have internal access to the messages. Meta rejected the claims in the lawsuit, which is allegedly based on whistleblower revelations

A recent lawsuit in the US claims that WhatsApp can read private or encrypted messages, basing its arguments on whistleblower revelations. Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg–led parent company of WhatsApp which also owns Facebook and Instagram, has strongly rejected these claims. The lawsuit’s claim about ‘whistleblowers’ is yet to be substantiated, as they are not named. Nevertheless, the case has brought renewed attention to the reliability of WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption (E2EE). What is WhatsApp’s encryption technology? E2EE uses the widely respected Signal protocol, a golden standard considered secure by experts. WhatsApp has often resisted government requests to decrypt chats, and there have been no known backdoor entries that allow the company or third parties to access message content. Enabled by default in WhatsApp, the E2EE encryption keys are stored only on users’ devices, theoretically preventing Meta from decrypting messages in transit or on servers. While metadata, such as who sent a message to whom, can be collected, the system is generally considered robust and capable of ensuring privacy and secrecy for users. https://www.wionews.com/videos/meta-tiktok-youtube-face-court-case-over-social-media-addiction-in-children-1769486751202/embed What is the new case against Meta on WhatsApp message encryption? An international group of plaintiffs from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa filed the lawsuit on January 24 at the US District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. They are seeking 'global class action' status for their complaint, aiming to represent billions of WhatsApp users across the world. The suit claims that Meta and WhatsApp ‘mislead users by advertising E2EE, while secretly storing, analysing and accessing virtually all private communications’. Also read: Meta launches 2 variants of AI-enabled smart glasses: Price, features revealed Employees can allegedly request such access via an internal system, which apparently involves sending a “task” to engineers who grant access without scrutiny. The messages, the lawsuit claims, can be viewed in real time through a widget using a user’s ID. Past messages since an account was created could be accessed with no decryption needed, contradicting Meta’s promises that only senders and recipients can read messages, the suit claims. According to reports, the lawsuit argues that Meta’s alleged conduct amounts to 'fraud on billions of users worldwide' who rely on WhatsApp’s privacy assurances. It is seeking damages and injunctive relief. Also read: Who Is Vishal Shah? Meta CEO Zuckerberg appoints head of project management for AI Division The lawsuit cited unnamed ‘courageous whistleblowers’ as the source of these revelations. Among other things, it alleged that non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) at Meta are suppressing this information from becoming public. However, the lawsuit provides no names or roles of the whistleblowers, or specific evidence or technical information in the complaint. Meta rejects claims as false and absurd Calling the allegations categorically false, absurd, and a “frivolous work of fiction”, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said WhatsApp has used the Signal protocol for E2EE for nearly a decade. Meta also vowed to seek sanctions against the plaintiffs’ lawyers, and fight the lawsuit from the beginning.

A US lawsuit claimed that Meta misled users by saying WhatsApp chats are private. It alleged that Meta staff can have internal access to the messages. Meta rejected the claims in the lawsuit, which is allegedly based on whistleblower revelations

WhatsApp can read users' encrypted messages, claims lawsuit against Meta in the US, citing whistleblowers

Meta has blocked more than 544,000 accounts under Australia's new under-16 ban. The tech giant, on Monday (Jan 12), urged the Australian government to rethink its world-first social media ban for teenagers, even as it revealed it has already removed more than half a million underage accounts to comply with the new law. The legislation, which came into force on December 10, requires major platforms, including Meta, TikTok and YouTube, to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take what the law describes as "reasonable steps" face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, roughly 33 million US dollars.<h2>Over half a million accounts blocked</h2>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a statement, said that his company had blocked over 544,000 accounts in the first week of enforcement alone. This included around 331,000 accounts on Instagram, 173,000 on Facebook, and another 40,000 on Threads. The company said it remains committed to following Australian law, but warned that the ban risks creating new problems rather than solving existing ones.Also read | &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/australian-teens-defy-under-16-social-media-bans-by-using-dog-pictures-so-how-safe-are-they-1765354324465">Australian teens defy under-16 social media bans by using dog pictures. So, how 'safe' are they?</a>In a statement, Meta called on Canberra to work more closely with the tech industry to develop alternatives. "We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivising all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans," said Meta.<h2>Why is Meta concerned?</h2>Meta said that at the heart of its concern is enforcement. The company revived its earlier call that app stores should be responsible for verifying users' ages and securing parental consent before minors can download an app. Without this, Meta said, companies are locked into a constant game of "whack-a-mole" race to try and stop teens from one platform only to see them reappear on another, often with fewer safeguards.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/would-you-give-rights-to-hostile-aliens-godfather-of-ai-warns-this-could-doom-humanity-1767165040322">Would you give rights to hostile aliens? Godfather of AI warns THIS could doom humanity</a><h2>Australia insists social media companies must take responsibility</h2>The Australian government, however, insists that it's holding social media companies accountable for the harm they cause young Australians. A spokesperson said social media companies already collect vast amounts of user data and should be able to use those systems to keep children off their platforms. They can and must use that information to comply with Australian law and ensure people under 16 are not on their platforms," said the government spokesperson.Meta countered that many parents and child development experts fear the ban could isolate teenagers from supportive online communities and push them toward less regulated apps or hidden corners of the internet. The company claimed that early signs "suggest it is not meeting its objectives of increasing the safety and well-being of young Australians".

Meta says it has blocked more than 544,000 under-16 accounts in Australia in the first week of a new law banning teenagers from social media, but warns that the policy may backfire.

Meta has blocked more than 544,000 accounts under Australia's new under-16 ban. The tech giant, on Monday (Jan 12), urged the Australian government to rethink its world-first social media ban for teenagers, even as it revealed it has already removed more than half a million underage accounts to comply with the new law. The legislation, which came into force on December 10, requires major platforms, including Meta, TikTok and YouTube, to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take what the law describes as "reasonable steps" face penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, roughly 33 million US dollars. Over half a million accounts blocked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a statement, said that his company had blocked over 544,000 accounts in the first week of enforcement alone. This included around 331,000 accounts on Instagram, 173,000 on Facebook, and another 40,000 on Threads. The company said it remains committed to following Australian law, but warned that the ban risks creating new problems rather than solving existing ones. Also read | Australian teens defy under-16 social media bans by using dog pictures. So, how 'safe' are they? In a statement, Meta called on Canberra to work more closely with the tech industry to develop alternatives. "We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivising all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans," said Meta. Why is Meta concerned? Meta said that at the heart of its concern is enforcement. The company revived its earlier call that app stores should be responsible for verifying users' ages and securing parental consent before minors can download an app. Without this, Meta said, companies are locked into a constant game of "whack-a-mole" race to try and stop teens from one platform only to see them reappear on another, often with fewer safeguards. Also read | Would you give rights to hostile aliens? Godfather of AI warns THIS could doom humanity Australia insists social media companies must take responsibility The Australian government, however, insists that it's holding social media companies accountable for the harm they cause young Australians. A spokesperson said social media companies already collect vast amounts of user data and should be able to use those systems to keep children off their platforms. They can and must use that information to comply with Australian law and ensure people under 16 are not on their platforms," said the government spokesperson. Meta countered that many parents and child development experts fear the ban could isolate teenagers from supportive online communities and push them toward less regulated apps or hidden corners of the internet. The company claimed that early signs "suggest it is not meeting its objectives of increasing the safety and well-being of young Australians".

Meta says it has blocked more than 544,000 under-16 accounts in Australia in the first week of a new law banning teenagers from social media, but warns that the policy may backfire.

Meta pushes back against Australia’s under-16 social media ban after blocking 544,000 users

Meta Platforms on Friday said it will invest $600 billion in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over the next three years, including artificial intelligence data centers, as the social media giant races to build infrastructure to power its AI ambitions.



Meta pours $600 billion into America's AI boom

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promoted veteran executive Vishal Shah to a key position within the company's AI division. It marks the latest move in Zuckerberg’s ongoing leadership reshuffle amid his rapid drive into artificial intelligence (AI). Meta’s AI product chief, Nat Friedman, said Shah will take charge of product management within his team, reporting directly to him, according to a Financial Times report, citing an internal memo.<h3>Who Is Vishal Shah?</h3>Based on the LinkedIn profile, Shah earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science and Business from the University of California, Berkeley, in May 2004.&nbsp;He began his career as an engineer at Redi2, followed by a little over a year as an analyst with Accenture.&nbsp;Between 2005 and 2013, Shah served as director of engineering at Turn, a digital marketing company, where he advanced to the role of director of engineering. He later spent two years as senior director of product management.&nbsp;Shah joined Instagram in 2015 as director of product management and served in that capacity until November 2018, after which he was promoted to vice-president (VP) of product. He held that role until August 2021 before becoming VP of Metaverse at Meta.&nbsp;In the memo seen by FT, Friedman commended Shah for his ability to tackle “ambiguous technical problems” and emphasised his “strong relationships across Meta,” reflecting confidence in Shah’s leadership as the company accelerates its AI initiatives.&nbsp;On this project, Shah will play a significant role in making Meta’s artificial intelligence capabilities into its Reality Labs division. The unit, which focuses on augmented and virtual reality, oversees the metaverse ambitions and the growing smart glasses initiative of the company.&nbsp;Quoting Shah's internal post, the FT report added that he plans to “remain very involved in building bridges between Meta’s Superintelligence Labs and Reality Labs that will enable us to shape how we deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people across all devices."

It marks the latest move in Zuckerberg’s ongoing leadership reshuffle amid his rapid drive into artificial intelligence (AI). Meta’s AI product chief, Nat Friedman, said Shah will take charge of product management within his team, reporting directly to him.

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promoted veteran executive Vishal Shah to a key position within the company's AI division. It marks the latest move in Zuckerberg’s ongoing leadership reshuffle amid his rapid drive into artificial intelligence (AI). Meta’s AI product chief, Nat Friedman, said Shah will take charge of product management within his team, reporting directly to him, according to a Financial Times report, citing an internal memo. Who Is Vishal Shah? Based on the LinkedIn profile, Shah earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science and Business from the University of California, Berkeley, in May 2004. He began his career as an engineer at Redi2, followed by a little over a year as an analyst with Accenture. Between 2005 and 2013, Shah served as director of engineering at Turn, a digital marketing company, where he advanced to the role of director of engineering. He later spent two years as senior director of product management. Shah joined Instagram in 2015 as director of product management and served in that capacity until November 2018, after which he was promoted to vice-president (VP) of product. He held that role until August 2021 before becoming VP of Metaverse at Meta. In the memo seen by FT, Friedman commended Shah for his ability to tackle “ambiguous technical problems” and emphasised his “strong relationships across Meta,” reflecting confidence in Shah’s leadership as the company accelerates its AI initiatives. On this project, Shah will play a significant role in making Meta’s artificial intelligence capabilities into its Reality Labs division. The unit, which focuses on augmented and virtual reality, oversees the metaverse ambitions and the growing smart glasses initiative of the company. Quoting Shah's internal post, the FT report added that he plans to “remain very involved in building bridges between Meta’s Superintelligence Labs and Reality Labs that will enable us to shape how we deliver personal superintelligence to billions of people across all devices."

It marks the latest move in Zuckerberg’s ongoing leadership reshuffle amid his rapid drive into artificial intelligence (AI). Meta’s AI product chief, Nat Friedman, said Shah will take charge of product management within his team, reporting directly to him.

Who Is Vishal Shah? Meta CEO Zuckerberg appoints head of project management for AI Division

Facebook has transformed how people connect, communicate, and consume information over the past two decades. What began as a university networking site in Harvard's dormitory has now evolved into Meta's flagship platform. Now it is serving over 3 billion users worldwide and reshaping the digital landscape.Mark Zuckerberg launched "Thefacebook" on 4 February 2004, initially restricting access to Harvard students before expanding to other universities. The BBC reports that within its first month, half of Harvard's undergraduate population had signed up.

<h2>Rise of Facebook</h2>Facebook's rise began with strategic university rollouts across America. By December 2005, the platform had reached 6 million users, according to Reuters. The company's decision to open registration to the general public in September 2006 marked a pivotal moment in social media history.The platform's initial public offering in May 2012 valued Facebook at $104 billion, making it one of the largest technology IPOs in history, as reported by The Verge. This milestone demonstrated investor confidence in social media's commercial viability and Facebook's dominant market position.Key acquisitions further solidified Facebook's dominance. The $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 and the $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014 created a social media empire that Meta continues to leverage today, according to company filings.&nbsp;Influence on Society and MediaFacebook has revolutionised how news spreads and public discourse occurs. A Pew Research Center studies show that 36 per cent of Americans regularly get news from Facebook, making it a primary information source for millions of people worldwide.&nbsp;Facebook's algorithm-driven news feed has influenced information consumption patterns globally. The platform's ability to personalise content has created both opportunities for relevant information delivery and concerns about echo chambers and filter bubbles, as documented by various media studies.

<h2>Privacy Challenges and Controversies</h2>Facebook has faced numerous privacy challenges that have shaped global conversations about data protection. The Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018 revealed that personal data from 87 million users had been harvested without consent, which later led to intense regulatory scrutiny worldwide.The company paid $5 billion in fines to the Federal Trade Commission in 2019, the largest privacy penalty in history at that time. This settlement highlighted the growing tension between tech innovation and user privacy protection, according to regulatory filings.Content moderation challenges have tested Facebook's ability to balance free speech with platform safety. The platform has struggled with misinformation, hate speech, and harmful content, prompting the establishment of independent oversight bodies and revised community standards.&nbsp;<h2>Facebook's Lasting Legacy</h2>Facebook's transformation into Meta in 2021 showed the company's commitment to virtual and augmented reality technologies. The metaverse vision represents Facebook's attempt to define the next phase of digital interaction, building upon its social networking foundations.The platform's influence on digital communication extends beyond social networking. Features like live streaming, marketplace functionality, and business pages have created new economic opportunities and communication methods that competitors continue to emulate.Facebook's data collection and algorithmic systems have influenced how other technology companies approach user engagement and platform design. The social media model pioneered by Facebook continues to shape digital product development across the technology industry.Educational institutions now incorporate social media literacy into curricula, recognising Facebook's role in changing how young people interact with information and each other. This educational shift reflects the platform's profound impact on social development and digital citizenship.&nbsp;As Facebook enters its third decade, its legacy encompasses both remarkable connectivity achievements and significant societal challenges. The platform's evolution from university networking tool to global communication infrastructure demonstrates technology's power to reshape human interaction, highlighting the responsibilities that accompany such influence.

Facebook has changed how billions connect, share, and get news over 20 years. From a harvard site to meta’s core platform, it shaped social media, faced privacy issues, and now leads in digital innovation. Know how facebook’s journey reshaped the digital world.

Facebook has transformed how people connect, communicate, and consume information over the past two decades. What began as a university networking site in Harvard's dormitory has now evolved into Meta's flagship platform. Now it is serving over 3 billion users worldwide and reshaping the digital landscape. Mark Zuckerberg launched "Thefacebook" on 4 February 2004, initially restricting access to Harvard students before expanding to other universities. The BBC reports that within its first month, half of Harvard's undergraduate population had signed up.

Facebook has changed how billions connect, share, and get news over 20 years. From a Harvard site to Meta’s core platform, it shaped social media, faced privacy issues, and now leads in digital innovation. Know how facebook’s journey reshaped the digital world.

20 years of Facebook: How it shaped the digital world

Elon Musk was not at Donald Trump’s high-stakes White House tech dinner — but was it a snub or a skip? As Trump hosted Big Tech titans like Zuckerberg, Gates, Altman, Cook, and Pichai, speculation swirled around Musk’s absence. Meanwhile, a hot mic moment from Zuckerberg, Gates praising Warp Speed, and Google’s antitrust relief made headlines. Melania even declared, “Our future is no longer sci-fi — robots are here.” Was this dinner a political masterclass or a corporate power shuffle?

Elon Musk missing from Trump’s tech dinner? Inside the power play

A tragic case in New Jersey has raised fresh concerns about the real-world risks of artificial intelligence chatbots, after a 76-year-old man died attempting to meet what he believed was a real woman he had been speaking to online, only to later discover she was an AI creation.&nbsp;Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner.&nbsp;Despite suffering a stroke nearly a decade ago and showing signs of cognitive decline, Wongbandue packed a suitcase in March and told his wife, Linda, that he was heading to New York City to visit a friend. Concerned for his safety, as he had recently become lost walking in his own neighbourhood, she questioned him, fearing he might be scammed or robbed.&nbsp;The chatbot had sent Wongbandue an address in Manhattan and a door code, along with flirtatious messages. “Should I open the door in a hug or a kiss, Bu?!” read one exchange according to Reuters.On his way to catch a train in the dark, Wongbandue fell in a parking lot on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, suffering head and neck injuries. After three days on life support, he died on 28 March.&nbsp;<h2>The Chatbot’s Role</h2>&nbsp;According to his daughter, Julie Wongbandue, every conversation her father had with the AI was 'incredibly flirty' and ended with heart emojis. The chatbot had repeatedly insisted it was a real person, even providing a specific apartment number and access code.&nbsp;“I understand trying to grab a user’s attention, maybe to sell them something,” Julie told Reuters. “But for a bot to say ‘Come visit me’ is insane.”&nbsp;Meta declined to comment on the death or address why it allows chatbots to claim they are real or initiate romantic conversations. The company stated only that Big Sis Billie “is not Kendall Jenner and does not purport to be Kendall Jenner.”&nbsp;<h2>Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability</h2>&nbsp;The case has sparked outrage online, with social media users calling for legal action against Meta over its AI policies. “Meta needs to be sued out of existence for this,” one user wrote. Others compared the incident to ‘catfishing traps’, warning of the dangers posed when AI blurs the line between fiction and reality.&nbsp;

Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner.

A tragic case in New Jersey has raised fresh concerns about the real-world risks of artificial intelligence chatbots, after a 76-year-old man died attempting to meet what he believed was a real woman he had been speaking to online, only to later discover she was an AI creation. Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner. Despite suffering a stroke nearly a decade ago and showing signs of cognitive decline, Wongbandue packed a suitcase in March and told his wife, Linda, that he was heading to New York City to visit a friend. Concerned for his safety, as he had recently become lost walking in his own neighbourhood, she questioned him, fearing he might be scammed or robbed. The chatbot had sent Wongbandue an address in Manhattan and a door code, along with flirtatious messages. “Should I open the door in a hug or a kiss, Bu?!” read one exchange according to Reuters. On his way to catch a train in the dark, Wongbandue fell in a parking lot on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, suffering head and neck injuries. After three days on life support, he died on 28 March. The Chatbot’s Role According to his daughter, Julie Wongbandue, every conversation her father had with the AI was 'incredibly flirty' and ended with heart emojis. The chatbot had repeatedly insisted it was a real person, even providing a specific apartment number and access code. “I understand trying to grab a user’s attention, maybe to sell them something,” Julie told Reuters. “But for a bot to say ‘Come visit me’ is insane.” Meta declined to comment on the death or address why it allows chatbots to claim they are real or initiate romantic conversations. The company stated only that Big Sis Billie “is not Kendall Jenner and does not purport to be Kendall Jenner.” Public Reaction and Calls for Accountability The case has sparked outrage online, with social media users calling for legal action against Meta over its AI policies. “Meta needs to be sued out of existence for this,” one user wrote. Others compared the incident to ‘catfishing traps’, warning of the dangers posed when AI blurs the line between fiction and reality.

Thongbue 'Bue' Wongbandue, a retired resident of Piscataway, New Jersey, had been exchanging messages with 'Big Sis Billie', a generative AI chatbot developed by Meta Platforms in collaboration with celebrity influencer Kendall Jenner.

‘Come visit me’: 76-year-old dies after attempt to meet Meta’s flirty AI chatbot

A few days ago, the Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg approached Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI and now the founder of the AI startup ‘Thinking Machines Lab,’ with an offer to acquire her startup for $1 billion. Instead of this handsome offer, Murati turned it down. In response, Zuckerberg launched a full-scale raid to recruit her top talent.&nbsp;One of the biggest targets of her company was Andrew Tulloch, a popular machine learning expert and cofounder of Thinking Machines, who was offered $1.5 billion over six years. But Tulloch also refused the extraordinary offer.<h3>Who is Mira Murati?</h3>She is an Albanian-American engineer, business executive, and leading figure in the artificial intelligence field who is widely known as the former chief technology officer at OpenAI, where she played a key role in the development of ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex systems.&nbsp;Later, she resigned from OpenAI in September 2024 and subsequently founded Thinking Machines Lab, an AI public benefit corporation based in San Francisco, in February 2025. Her work helped bring generative AI into the mainstream, leading a series of innovations globally across industries from education and healthcare to design and coding.&nbsp;After the launch of 'Thinking Machines' in 2025, the platform quickly emerged as one of the most-watched AI startups. The company recently raised a stunning $2 billion seed round at a valuation nearing $12 billion, led by Andreessen Horowitz, despite not launching a single product yet.<h3>What is Mira Murati’s net worth in 2025?</h3>The estimated net worth of Mira Murati is approximately $1.4 billion, primarily driven by her 14 per cent equity stake in her AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab. Her company achieved a valuation of $10–12 billion after a major funding round in July 2025, according to a report in Finance Monthly.<h3>Why did Mira Murati reject Mark Zuckerberg’s $1 billion offer?</h3>Mira Murati rejected Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's $1 billion offer, as she and her team at the Thinking Machines Lab prioritised independence, long-term vision, and the potential impact of their mission over immediate financial gain. Her startup focused on creating customizable, interpretable, and widely accessible AI systems that could redefine the AI landscape.&nbsp;

Before launching her AI startup, ‘Thinking Machines Lab,' in February 2025, Mira Murati was employed as CTO of OpenAI. Her work helped bring generative AI into the mainstream, which led to a series of innovations across the world.

A few days ago, the Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg approached Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI and now the founder of the AI startup ‘Thinking Machines Lab,’ with an offer to acquire her startup for $1 billion. Instead of this handsome offer, Murati turned it down. In response, Zuckerberg launched a full-scale raid to recruit her top talent. One of the biggest targets of her company was Andrew Tulloch, a popular machine learning expert and cofounder of Thinking Machines, who was offered $1.5 billion over six years. But Tulloch also refused the extraordinary offer. Who is Mira Murati? She is an Albanian-American engineer, business executive, and leading figure in the artificial intelligence field who is widely known as the former chief technology officer at OpenAI, where she played a key role in the development of ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex systems. Later, she resigned from OpenAI in September 2024 and subsequently founded Thinking Machines Lab, an AI public benefit corporation based in San Francisco, in February 2025. Her work helped bring generative AI into the mainstream, leading a series of innovations globally across industries from education and healthcare to design and coding. After the launch of 'Thinking Machines' in 2025, the platform quickly emerged as one of the most-watched AI startups. The company recently raised a stunning $2 billion seed round at a valuation nearing $12 billion, led by Andreessen Horowitz, despite not launching a single product yet. What is Mira Murati’s net worth in 2025? The estimated net worth of Mira Murati is approximately $1.4 billion, primarily driven by her 14 per cent equity stake in her AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab. Her company achieved a valuation of $10–12 billion after a major funding round in July 2025, according to a report in Finance Monthly. Why did Mira Murati reject Mark Zuckerberg’s $1 billion offer? Mira Murati rejected Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's $1 billion offer, as she and her team at the Thinking Machines Lab prioritised independence, long-term vision, and the potential impact of their mission over immediate financial gain. Her startup focused on creating customizable, interpretable, and widely accessible AI systems that could redefine the AI landscape.

Before launching her AI startup, ‘Thinking Machines Lab,' in February 2025, Mira Murati was employed as CTO of OpenAI. Her work helped bring generative AI into the mainstream, which led to a series of innovations across the world.

Who is Mira Murati? Founder of 'Thinking Machines Lab' who turned down Zuckerberg's $1 billion offer to join Meta AI

Meta Platforms is accelerating its push to bring in outside investors to help finance its growing artificial intelligence infrastructure. In a regulatory filing disclosed on Thursday, the tech giant revealed plans to offload $2.04 billion worth of data centre assets, as part of a broader strategy to co-develop facilities powering its next-generation AI systems.&nbsp;The move reflects a notable shift in how Big Tech firms fund infrastructure, as the cost of building and operating data centres for generative AI continues to soar.<h2>Meta eyes co-development model amid rising AI costs</h2>As per Reuters, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp has reclassified a major portion of its data centre infrastructure, including land and construction-in-progress, as “held-for-sale.” The company expects these assets to be contributed to a third-party venture within 12 months, aimed at co-developing AI data centres.&nbsp;Meta valued the reclassified assets at the lower of their carrying amounts or fair value less selling costs, and did not record a loss. The company disclosed in its filing that total held-for-sale assets stood at $3.26 billion as of June 30, according to Reuters.<h2>CFO confirms search for financial partners</h2>In an earnings call earlier this week, Meta Chief Financial Officer Susan Li confirmed the company is “exploring ways to work with financial partners to co-develop data centers,” as quoted by Reuters. While Meta still intends to fund most of its capital expenditure internally, Li said some infrastructure projects could attract “significant external financing”, offering greater flexibility should infrastructure needs evolve.&nbsp;Li clarified there were no finalised transactions yet, but the language in the regulatory filing suggests that plans are advancing, Reuters reported.<h2>Zuckerberg’s AI ambitions drive spending surge</h2>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently championed the company’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence, with plans to build massive “AI superclusters” to support artificial general intelligence (AGI) development. “Just one of these covers a significant part of the footprint of Manhattan,” Zuckerberg said this week, underscoring the sheer physical and financial scale of the company’s AI infrastructure projects, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;In line with this strategy, Meta on Wednesday raised the lower end of its full-year capital expenditure guidance by $2 billion, bringing the updated forecast to $66 billion to $72 billion. The increased spending comes as Meta reported stronger-than-expected ad sales, driven in part by AI-enhanced ad targeting and content delivery, as per Reuters.<h2>Silicon Valley’s funding model is evolving</h2>Meta’s asset sale strategy underscores a broader trend in the tech industry. As per Reuters, major companies like Meta are now rethinking the traditional model of self-funding infrastructure, particularly for AI development. The construction and operation of advanced data centres demands huge upfront investment in real estate, energy, semiconductors, and cooling systems.&nbsp;While Meta declined to comment on the specific asset sale plans when approached by Reuters, the company’s disclosures make clear its willingness to share the financial burden of its long-term AI ambitions. With investor enthusiasm for AI infrastructure still running high, Meta’s move could set a new precedent, changing how trillion-dollar tech firms scale their AI operations in the years to come.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies)&nbsp;

Meta reclassifies $3.26 billion in assets for sale as it seeks external partners to co finance AI data centers, reflecting a shift in Silicon Valley AI investment strategy.

Meta Platforms is accelerating its push to bring in outside investors to help finance its growing artificial intelligence infrastructure. In a regulatory filing disclosed on Thursday, the tech giant revealed plans to offload $2.04 billion worth of data centre assets, as part of a broader strategy to co-develop facilities powering its next-generation AI systems. The move reflects a notable shift in how Big Tech firms fund infrastructure, as the cost of building and operating data centres for generative AI continues to soar. Meta eyes co-development model amid rising AI costs As per Reuters, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp has reclassified a major portion of its data centre infrastructure, including land and construction-in-progress, as “held-for-sale.” The company expects these assets to be contributed to a third-party venture within 12 months, aimed at co-developing AI data centres. Meta valued the reclassified assets at the lower of their carrying amounts or fair value less selling costs, and did not record a loss. The company disclosed in its filing that total held-for-sale assets stood at $3.26 billion as of June 30, according to Reuters. CFO confirms search for financial partners In an earnings call earlier this week, Meta Chief Financial Officer Susan Li confirmed the company is “exploring ways to work with financial partners to co-develop data centers,” as quoted by Reuters. While Meta still intends to fund most of its capital expenditure internally, Li said some infrastructure projects could attract “significant external financing”, offering greater flexibility should infrastructure needs evolve. Li clarified there were no finalised transactions yet, but the language in the regulatory filing suggests that plans are advancing, Reuters reported. Zuckerberg’s AI ambitions drive spending surge Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently championed the company’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence, with plans to build massive “AI superclusters” to support artificial general intelligence (AGI) development. “Just one of these covers a significant part of the footprint of Manhattan,” Zuckerberg said this week, underscoring the sheer physical and financial scale of the company’s AI infrastructure projects, as quoted by Reuters. In line with this strategy, Meta on Wednesday raised the lower end of its full-year capital expenditure guidance by $2 billion, bringing the updated forecast to $66 billion to $72 billion. The increased spending comes as Meta reported stronger-than-expected ad sales, driven in part by AI-enhanced ad targeting and content delivery, as per Reuters. Silicon Valley’s funding model is evolving Meta’s asset sale strategy underscores a broader trend in the tech industry. As per Reuters, major companies like Meta are now rethinking the traditional model of self-funding infrastructure, particularly for AI development. The construction and operation of advanced data centres demands huge upfront investment in real estate, energy, semiconductors, and cooling systems. While Meta declined to comment on the specific asset sale plans when approached by Reuters, the company’s disclosures make clear its willingness to share the financial burden of its long-term AI ambitions. With investor enthusiasm for AI infrastructure still running high, Meta’s move could set a new precedent, changing how trillion-dollar tech firms scale their AI operations in the years to come. (With inputs from the agencies)

Meta plans to sell over $2 billion in data center assets to co-develop AI infrastructure, signaling a new funding approach amid surging AI costs.

Meta to offload $2 billion in data centre assets to fund AI infrastructure costs

Mark Zuckerberg has overtaken Jeff Bezos to become the third-richest person in the world with a nearly 12 per cent increase of about $28.4 billion. Zuckerberg holds roughly 13 per cent of Meta's earnings, which is valued as of August 2025 at $268.4 billion, compared to Jeff Bezos, who is valued at $247.4 billion. Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with an expected wealth of $403.5 billion.&nbsp;<h2>Forbes wealth ranking, August 1, 2025</h2><ol><li>Elon Musk - Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has held the position since May 2024</li><li>Larry Ellison - Oracle's chief, holds the second position for the second month in a row, with an expected valuation of $306 billion</li><li>Mark Zuckerberg - Meta CEO, has had good fortune following the 40 per cent jump in the share price since falling to its lowest point in April.&nbsp;</li><li>Jeff Bezos - Amazon Founder, Bezos, who was in the news for his extravagant wedding, is valued at $247.4 billion with a 7 per cent rise in Amazon shares.</li><li>Larry Page - Co-founder of Google, Larry Page is valued at $158B with a 9 per cent uptick in Alphabet shares.</li><li>Jensen Huang - NVIDIA CEO is valued $154.8 billion, and owns 3 per cent of the company.</li><li>&nbsp;Sergey Brin - &nbsp;He is also the co-founder of Google; his wealth increased by $11.3 billion, estimated at $150.8 billion.</li><li>Steve Ballmer - Former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer's net worth is $148.7 billion, gained $7.5 billion over the past month due to the 7% surge in Microsoft shares.&nbsp;</li><li>Warren Buffett- The 94-year-old value decreased by 1 per cent over the last month and dropped from 6th to 9th with an estimated value of $143.4 billion</li><li>Bernard Arnault- He dropped from 9th to 10th even after adding $4.5 billion to his net worth. He is now valued at $142.9 billion.</li></ol>Notably, Mark Zuckerberg's wealth has increased by over $100 billion in 2025 alone, one of the largest jumps among the billionaires as tracked by Bloomberg and Forbes. Bloomberg had already put Zuckerberg ahead of Bezos in May, but Forbes ranked him ahead in August. These changes in the ranking of Zuckerberg and Bezos are related to the fluctuation of share prices, as both of the billionaires' net worth are heavily tied to their equity holdings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mark Zuckerberg had surpassed Jeff Bezos to become the third richest person in the world in 2025, owing to the 11 per cent surge in Meta stock price.

Mark Zuckerberg has overtaken Jeff Bezos to become the third-richest person in the world with a nearly 12 per cent increase of about $28.4 billion. Zuckerberg holds roughly 13 per cent of Meta's earnings, which is valued as of August 2025 at $268.4 billion, compared to Jeff Bezos, who is valued at $247.4 billion. Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with an expected wealth of $403.5 billion. Forbes wealth ranking, August 1, 2025 Elon Musk - Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has held the position since May 2024 Larry Ellison - Oracle's chief, holds the second position for the second month in a row, with an expected valuation of $306 billion Mark Zuckerberg - Meta CEO, has had good fortune following the 40 per cent jump in the share price since falling to its lowest point in April. Jeff Bezos - Amazon Founder, Bezos, who was in the news for his extravagant wedding, is valued at $247.4 billion with a 7 per cent rise in Amazon shares. Larry Page - Co-founder of Google, Larry Page is valued at $158B with a 9 per cent uptick in Alphabet shares. Jensen Huang - NVIDIA CEO is valued $154.8 billion, and owns 3 per cent of the company. Sergey Brin - He is also the co-founder of Google; his wealth increased by $11.3 billion, estimated at $150.8 billion. Steve Ballmer - Former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer's net worth is $148.7 billion, gained $7.5 billion over the past month due to the 7% surge in Microsoft shares. Warren Buffett- The 94-year-old value decreased by 1 per cent over the last month and dropped from 6th to 9th with an estimated value of $143.4 billion Bernard Arnault- He dropped from 9th to 10th even after adding $4.5 billion to his net worth. He is now valued at $142.9 billion. Notably, Mark Zuckerberg's wealth has increased by over $100 billion in 2025 alone, one of the largest jumps among the billionaires as tracked by Bloomberg and Forbes. Bloomberg had already put Zuckerberg ahead of Bezos in May, but Forbes ranked him ahead in August. These changes in the ranking of Zuckerberg and Bezos are related to the fluctuation of share prices, as both of the billionaires' net worth are heavily tied to their equity holdings.

Mark Zuckerberg had surpassed Jeff Bezos to become the third richest person in the world in 2025, owing to the 11 per cent surge in Meta stock price.

Zuckerberg overtakes Bezos: Top 10 richest people in the world in 2025

Mark Zuckerberg has once again sparked outrage from locals of Hawaii by adding roughly 962 acres to his private property in the north shore of Kauai, also known as “Koolau Ranch”. It all started in 2014, when Billionaire Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg purchased roughly 700 acres of property near Kilauea. Over the years, the property doubled in size to 1400 acres, and now, after the recent acquisition, it roughly stands at 2300 acres, spreading across roughly 3.6 square miles, equivalent to the size of two football fields. Experts estimate the value to be at $65 million.&nbsp;This recent acquisition has raised an alert among the natives of Hawaii. "If our island has any hope of remaining Hawaii, this kind of activity has got to stop," said Puali'i Rossi, a professor of Native Hawaiian studies and quoted by Wired, "Eventually Hawaiʻi isn't going to look like Hawaiʻi anymore — it's going to look like a resort community."&nbsp;The massive plot has two mansions connected by a hidden tunnel. The mansions spread across 57,000 square ft. living space with plans of 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms, guest houses, treehouses, a gym, tennis court, sauna, cold plunge, and more. Then there is a 5,000 square feet of underground sanctuary with blast-resistant doors, escape hatches, water, food and energy systems. Some say it is built for a post-apocalyptic scenario like a social collapse, climate shock or nuclear war. A former contractor bluntly says, “It’s fight club. We don’t talk about Fight Club.” Some were reportedly fired for posting or talking about the project. Thus, the compound achieved a mythical status.&nbsp;According to a report by Wired, 37 billionaires collectively own 218,000 acres of land on the island, which is more than one tenth of the Island. The most controversial part is that Zuckerberg's estate sits atop a burial ground where at least two of the cultural practitioner Julian Ako’s ancestors were laid to rest. Even though Acko, after much back and forth with Mark, managed to get those lands fenced and registered with the state, according to the oral history of the native tribe, there are more ancestral remains in the ground. Community members worry that workers who find these remains will not be able to come out due to the NDA and thus silencing their discoveries. In 2025, the disparity between haves and have-nots is huge. According to a Bloomberg report, the richest people in the world, with their super-yachts and private jets, are living a high-carbon lifestyle. According to a report by Oxfam, the world's 50 richest billionaires account for more carbon pollution every two hours than the average person does in their lifetime. Mark Zuckerberg's team have formally expanded their submission to include agricultural and conservation plans, with less than one per cent being developed. But the debate persists as the local identity and access to traditional “ʻĀina” is quietly being taken away.

Mark Zuckerberg is drawing flak from the natives of Hawaii with his increased ownership of land and extravagant mansion on the island. The native Hawaiians are facing an identity dysphoria with decreased access to their traditional “ʻĀina”. 

Mark Zuckerberg has once again sparked outrage from locals of Hawaii by adding roughly 962 acres to his private property in the north shore of Kauai, also known as “Koolau Ranch”. It all started in 2014, when Billionaire Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg purchased roughly 700 acres of property near Kilauea. Over the years, the property doubled in size to 1400 acres, and now, after the recent acquisition, it roughly stands at 2300 acres, spreading across roughly 3.6 square miles, equivalent to the size of two football fields. Experts estimate the value to be at $65 million. This recent acquisition has raised an alert among the natives of Hawaii. "If our island has any hope of remaining Hawaii, this kind of activity has got to stop," said Puali'i Rossi, a professor of Native Hawaiian studies and quoted by Wired, "Eventually Hawaiʻi isn't going to look like Hawaiʻi anymore — it's going to look like a resort community." The massive plot has two mansions connected by a hidden tunnel. The mansions spread across 57,000 square ft. living space with plans of 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms, guest houses, treehouses, a gym, tennis court, sauna, cold plunge, and more. Then there is a 5,000 square feet of underground sanctuary with blast-resistant doors, escape hatches, water, food and energy systems. Some say it is built for a post-apocalyptic scenario like a social collapse, climate shock or nuclear war. A former contractor bluntly says, “It’s fight club. We don’t talk about Fight Club.” Some were reportedly fired for posting or talking about the project. Thus, the compound achieved a mythical status. According to a report by Wired, 37 billionaires collectively own 218,000 acres of land on the island, which is more than one tenth of the Island. The most controversial part is that Zuckerberg's estate sits atop a burial ground where at least two of the cultural practitioner Julian Ako’s ancestors were laid to rest. Even though Acko, after much back and forth with Mark, managed to get those lands fenced and registered with the state, according to the oral history of the native tribe, there are more ancestral remains in the ground. Community members worry that workers who find these remains will not be able to come out due to the NDA and thus silencing their discoveries. In 2025, the disparity between haves and have-nots is huge. According to a Bloomberg report, the richest people in the world, with their super-yachts and private jets, are living a high-carbon lifestyle. According to a report by Oxfam, the world's 50 richest billionaires account for more carbon pollution every two hours than the average person does in their lifetime. Mark Zuckerberg's team have formally expanded their submission to include agricultural and conservation plans, with less than one per cent being developed. But the debate persists as the local identity and access to traditional “ʻĀina” is quietly being taken away.

Mark Zuckerberg is drawing flak from the natives of Hawaii with his increased ownership of land and extravagant mansion on the island. The native Hawaiians are facing an identity dysphoria with decreased access to their traditional “Āina”.&nbsp;

'Eventually Hawaii is going to look like a resort community': Mark Zuckerberg sparks outrage over land acquisition

Mark Zuckerberg and a group of current and former Meta Platforms executives have reached a settlement in a high-profile shareholder lawsuit seeking $8 billion in damages over repeated violations of Facebook users’ privacy and corporate mismanagement. The agreement was announced in Delaware’s Court of Chancery on July 17, halting what would have been a rare trial scrutinising the internal governance of one of the world’s most powerful technology companies.The lawsuit, filed by Meta shareholders, alleged that Zuckerberg and other top Meta officials failed in their oversight responsibilities by allowing years of data privacy breaches. The claims centred on the company’s inability to comply with a 2012 consent agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), culminating in a record $5 billion fine in 2019 following revelations about unauthorised data access by political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.While the specific terms of the settlement remain confidential, the trial was abruptly adjourned just before its second day of proceedings. The move shields Zuckerberg, former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, and other high-profile defendants, including board members Marc Andreessen, Peter Thiel, and Reed Hastings, from having to testify. The lawsuit had sought to hold 11 current and former Meta directors and officers personally liable for regulatory fines and legal costs related to user data mishandling.<h2>Oversight claims and the Cambridge Analytica fallout</h2>The core of the shareholder case revolved around so-called “Caremark” oversight claims, among the most difficult to prove under Delaware corporate law. Plaintiffs accused Meta’s leadership of deliberately ignoring their fiduciary duty to monitor compliance with federal privacy laws. They also alleged that the company’s executive team knowingly operated Facebook as what they described as an “illegal data harvesting enterprise.”The trial, if it had continued, was set to feature testimony from several high-level figures in Silicon Valley, including Zuckerberg, Sandberg, Thiel, and Hastings. The plaintiffs hoped the testimony would reveal internal deliberations and failures that contributed to Meta’s growing list of privacy-related penalties.The litigation followed the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, which accessed data from tens of millions of Facebook users without consent and allegedly used it for political profiling during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The FTC ruled that Facebook had violated its 2012 agreement to protect user data and imposed the $5 billion penalty.Expert witnesses called by the plaintiffs had pointed to systemic gaps in Facebook’s privacy oversight practices, while internal board communications were expected to be examined in depth. However, some defence evidence, including notes from former board member Jeffrey Zients, suggested that directors were actively discussing privacy reforms, potentially weakening the case.<h2>Settlement avoids high-risk testimony and legal precedents</h2>The surprise settlement spares Meta’s leadership from what would have been an unprecedented public reckoning under Delaware’s legal framework for corporate governance. Notably, the case marked the first time that Caremark oversight claims had advanced to trial—an indicator of the case’s potential significance for future boardroom accountability.Sandberg, who left Meta in 2022, had already been sanctioned during the pre-trial phase for deleting sensitive communications, complicating her potential defence. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg faced intense scrutiny over his dual role as CEO and controlling shareholder, which critics argue concentrates power without sufficient accountability.The trial’s abrupt end also means there will be no official court finding on whether Meta’s leaders violated legal standards of board oversight. While investors sought financial restitution for the company, they also aimed to achieve greater transparency and accountability for privacy failures that continue to shape Meta’s public image.Meta, which changed its name from Facebook in 2021, was not a named defendant in the case. The company has stated that it has invested billions in privacy improvements since the Cambridge Analytica episode, though it declined to comment on the settlement.The closure of the case, while removing immediate legal risk for the individual defendants, also ensures that many key questions about how Meta handled its most significant privacy scandals may remain unanswered. Meta shares were down 0.21 per cent on July 17 and have declined 3.1 per cent over the past five days.

The lawsuit, filed by Meta shareholders, alleged that Zuckerberg and other top Meta officials failed in their oversight responsibilities by allowing years of data privacy breaches.

Mark Zuckerberg and a group of current and former Meta Platforms executives have reached a settlement in a high-profile shareholder lawsuit seeking $8 billion in damages over repeated violations of Facebook users’ privacy and corporate mismanagement. The agreement was announced in Delaware’s Court of Chancery on July 17, halting what would have been a rare trial scrutinising the internal governance of one of the world’s most powerful technology companies. The lawsuit, filed by Meta shareholders, alleged that Zuckerberg and other top Meta officials failed in their oversight responsibilities by allowing years of data privacy breaches. The claims centred on the company’s inability to comply with a 2012 consent agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), culminating in a record $5 billion fine in 2019 following revelations about unauthorised data access by political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. While the specific terms of the settlement remain confidential, the trial was abruptly adjourned just before its second day of proceedings. The move shields Zuckerberg, former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, and other high-profile defendants, including board members Marc Andreessen, Peter Thiel, and Reed Hastings, from having to testify. The lawsuit had sought to hold 11 current and former Meta directors and officers personally liable for regulatory fines and legal costs related to user data mishandling. Oversight claims and the Cambridge Analytica fallout The core of the shareholder case revolved around so-called “Caremark” oversight claims, among the most difficult to prove under Delaware corporate law. Plaintiffs accused Meta’s leadership of deliberately ignoring their fiduciary duty to monitor compliance with federal privacy laws. They also alleged that the company’s executive team knowingly operated Facebook as what they described as an “illegal data harvesting enterprise.” The trial, if it had continued, was set to feature testimony from several high-level figures in Silicon Valley, including Zuckerberg, Sandberg, Thiel, and Hastings. The plaintiffs hoped the testimony would reveal internal deliberations and failures that contributed to Meta’s growing list of privacy-related penalties. The litigation followed the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, which accessed data from tens of millions of Facebook users without consent and allegedly used it for political profiling during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The FTC ruled that Facebook had violated its 2012 agreement to protect user data and imposed the $5 billion penalty. Expert witnesses called by the plaintiffs had pointed to systemic gaps in Facebook’s privacy oversight practices, while internal board communications were expected to be examined in depth. However, some defence evidence, including notes from former board member Jeffrey Zients, suggested that directors were actively discussing privacy reforms, potentially weakening the case. Settlement avoids high-risk testimony and legal precedents The surprise settlement spares Meta’s leadership from what would have been an unprecedented public reckoning under Delaware’s legal framework for corporate governance. Notably, the case marked the first time that Caremark oversight claims had advanced to trial—an indicator of the case’s potential significance for future boardroom accountability. Sandberg, who left Meta in 2022, had already been sanctioned during the pre-trial phase for deleting sensitive communications, complicating her potential defence. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg faced intense scrutiny over his dual role as CEO and controlling shareholder, which critics argue concentrates power without sufficient accountability. The trial’s abrupt end also means there will be no official court finding on whether Meta’s leaders violated legal standards of board oversight. While investors sought financial restitution for the company, they also aimed to achieve greater transparency and accountability for privacy failures that continue to shape Meta’s public image. Meta, which changed its name from Facebook in 2021, was not a named defendant in the case. The company has stated that it has invested billions in privacy improvements since the Cambridge Analytica episode, though it declined to comment on the settlement. The closure of the case, while removing immediate legal risk for the individual defendants, also ensures that many key questions about how Meta handled its most significant privacy scandals may remain unanswered. Meta shares were down 0.21 per cent on July 17 and have declined 3.1 per cent over the past five days.

The lawsuit, filed by Meta shareholders, alleged that Zuckerberg and other top Meta officials failed in their oversight responsibilities by allowing years of data privacy breaches.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta executives settle $8 billion privacy lawsuit ahead of testimony

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly stumbles inside the Oval Office unannounced, when US President Donald Trump was conducting a top-secret meeting with high-ranking military officials about the futuristic F-47 stealth fighter jet. He was reportedly escorted out and was asked to wait outside, as he did not have the security clearance.The NBC report that surfaced on Wednesday was discussing the inner workings of President Trump’s West Wing. It was citing two unnamed sources who said Mark Zuckerberg “walked in unexpectedly.” The Oval Office meeting focused on the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet–the F-47 project. Military officials present in the room reportedly viewed his arrival as inappropriate, 'mystified and a bit unnerved' given the nature of the discussions, and requested that he wait outside due to a lack of security clearance. One anonymous source described the moment as “bizarro world.”However, the White House was quick to issue a denial of such claims, with one senior official claiming that these reports “mischaracterised” the situation.&nbsp;“There was no request for him to leave,” the official stated. “He popped in to say hello at the president’s request, and then left to wait for his meeting with POTUS to begin, which was scheduled to occur after the meeting with the pilots.”The senior official said Zuckerberg was briefly invited into the Oval Office by Trump for a casual meeting before a scheduled meeting. He was then asked to wait outside as the scheduled meeting started.However, Meta declined to comment. Recently, Zuckerberg has been criticised for his perceived political pivot. Considered as one-time foe of President Trump, since his return, the Meta CEO has made a series of decisions which were perceived by many as favouring conservatives, and an attempt to cosy up with the MAGA leader. Notably, the cessation of third-party fact-checking on Facebook and the appointment of Trump confidant Dana White to Meta’s board of directors.

A brief Oval Office appearance by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a Trump administration confidential meeting has triggered conflicting accounts; he was asked to leave. 

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly stumbles inside the Oval Office unannounced, when US President Donald Trump was conducting a top-secret meeting with high-ranking military officials about the futuristic F-47 stealth fighter jet. He was reportedly escorted out and was asked to wait outside, as he did not have the security clearance. The NBC report that surfaced on Wednesday was discussing the inner workings of President Trump’s West Wing. It was citing two unnamed sources who said Mark Zuckerberg “walked in unexpectedly.” The Oval Office meeting focused on the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet–the F-47 project. Military officials present in the room reportedly viewed his arrival as inappropriate, 'mystified and a bit unnerved' given the nature of the discussions, and requested that he wait outside due to a lack of security clearance. One anonymous source described the moment as “bizarro world.” However, the White House was quick to issue a denial of such claims, with one senior official claiming that these reports “mischaracterised” the situation. “There was no request for him to leave,” the official stated. “He popped in to say hello at the president’s request, and then left to wait for his meeting with POTUS to begin, which was scheduled to occur after the meeting with the pilots.” The senior official said Zuckerberg was briefly invited into the Oval Office by Trump for a casual meeting before a scheduled meeting. He was then asked to wait outside as the scheduled meeting started. However, Meta declined to comment. Recently, Zuckerberg has been criticised for his perceived political pivot. Considered as one-time foe of President Trump, since his return, the Meta CEO has made a series of decisions which were perceived by many as favouring conservatives, and an attempt to cosy up with the MAGA leader. Notably, the cessation of third-party fact-checking on Facebook and the appointment of Trump confidant Dana White to Meta’s board of directors.

A brief Oval Office appearance by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a Trump administration confidential meeting has triggered conflicting accounts; he was asked to leave.&nbsp;

'Bizarro world' Mark Zuckerberg stumbles into secret meeting of Trump in Oval office, asked to leave?

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are shutting down the free school they were running in the Bay Area. The parents say they were not given any plausible reason for the sudden decision. The school opened in 2016 and is now being closed abruptly.
The Primary School, founded in 2016 by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, provided free schooling and health care to low-income families. It is located in the East Palo Alto area, a short distance from Meta&rsquo;s headquarters.&nbsp;
The school has announced it would shut its doors at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Parents are shocked by the announcement and find themselves stuck.
The news was first reported by The New York Times. A parent told the publication that the school invited the parents to a breakfast of bagels, fruit, and Starbucks coffee. This was when they informed them about the school's closure, although no specific reason was provided.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zuckerberg-wanted-to-delete-everyones-facebook-friends-lists-heres-why-8968545" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Crazy, crazy idea': Zuckerberg wanted to delete everyone's Facebook friends lists. Here's why</a>
<h2>Zuckerberg's change of plans under Trump</h2>
The Times reported that a child overheard his teachers and told her mother, "Mommy, the guy who&rsquo;s been giving money to our school doesn&rsquo;t want to give it to us anymore."
Zuckerberg has changed his plans dramatically since Donald Trump became the president. Zuckerberg and Chan&rsquo;s nonprofit, CZI, announced in February that it would focus more on science and "wind down" its social advocacy work. This includes investments in immigration reform and racial equity grantmaking, as well as internal DEI programs.&nbsp;
Notably, Zuckerberg has changed things at his company. &nbsp;Meta&rsquo;s DEI programs have ended the social media platform has also scrapped its fact-checking policies. It now uses a "Community Notes" model, similar to what Elon Musk uses at X. He also donated $1 million to Trump&rsquo;s inaugural fund through Meta and was part of the billionaires group present at Trump's inauguration.&nbsp;
The families say the entry of hundreds of highly-paid tech workers in Silicon Valley created a housing crisis for the residents who were being forced out of their homes after landlords got higher offers. "Now they&rsquo;re gonna take this (school) away too. It seems unfair," a parent told the San Francisco Standard.

A parent said that the school invited the parents to a breakfast of bagels, fruit, and Starbucks coffee, and this is when they decided to drop the bomb. World Trending

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are shutting down the free school they were running in the Bay Area. The parents say they were not given any plausible reason for the sudden decision. The school opened in 2016 and is now being closed abruptly. The Primary School, founded in 2016 by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, provided free schooling and health care to low-income families. It is located in the East Palo Alto area, a short distance from Meta’s headquarters. The school has announced it would shut its doors at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Parents are shocked by the announcement and find themselves stuck. The news was first reported by The New York Times. A parent told the publication that the school invited the parents to a breakfast of bagels, fruit, and Starbucks coffee. This was when they informed them about the school's closure, although no specific reason was provided. Also Read: 'Crazy, crazy idea': Zuckerberg wanted to delete everyone's Facebook friends lists. Here's why Zuckerberg's change of plans under Trump The Times reported that a child overheard his teachers and told her mother, "Mommy, the guy who’s been giving money to our school doesn’t want to give it to us anymore." Zuckerberg has changed his plans dramatically since Donald Trump became the president. Zuckerberg and Chan’s nonprofit, CZI, announced in February that it would focus more on science and "wind down" its social advocacy work. This includes investments in immigration reform and racial equity grantmaking, as well as internal DEI programs. Notably, Zuckerberg has changed things at his company. Meta’s DEI programs have ended the social media platform has also scrapped its fact-checking policies. It now uses a "Community Notes" model, similar to what Elon Musk uses at X. He also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund through Meta and was part of the billionaires group present at Trump's inauguration. The families say the entry of hundreds of highly-paid tech workers in Silicon Valley created a housing crisis for the residents who were being forced out of their homes after landlords got higher offers. "Now they’re gonna take this (school) away too. It seems unfair," a parent told the San Francisco Standard.

'Guy who’s been giving money...': Zuckerbergs to shut down free school only after 10 years

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg thought about deleting everyone's Facebook friends and wanted to create a feed consisting of only ads, The Verge reported. He made the revelation during the antitrust trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission that started on April 14. The FTC alleges that Meta, Facebook at the time, illegally monopolised the market for "personal social networking services" by buying Instagram and WhatsApp.
Zuckerberg's testimony was attended by only a handful of media personnel. He talked about how competition from other platforms got to him, and he had some "crazy ideas", including wiping clean users' friends list and buying Snapchat as he tried to build his social media empire.
<h2>Zuckerberg wanted to "wipe off" everyone's Facebook friend lists&nbsp;</h2>
The Verge reported that Zuckerberg revealed that in 2022, he came up with an idea to get people to use Facebook more. He thought that if everyone's friend lists were deleted and they had to "start again", it could get them to engage more with the platform.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mark-zuckerberg-instagram-sale-trial-at-ftc-vs-meta-not-first-time-zuckerberg-court-cases-house-senate-testimonies-timeline-updates-8963294" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">The 9 lives of Mark Zuckerberg: Every time Meta CEO faced scrutiny. Will he survive 'sell Instagram' trial this time? A timeline</a>
Zuckerberg felt that Facebook&rsquo;s "cultural relevance is decreasing quickly", which led him to come up with the plan that he wanted to use in a staggered manner. He proposed starting the plan with a smaller country and seeing how it went.
&ldquo;Even if [Instagram] and [WhatsApp] do well, I don&rsquo;t see a way for our company to succeed in the way we need if FB falters, so we need to get this right," he said in the Washington, DC courtroom.
<h2>Zuckerberg wanted to make Instagram a separate entity&nbsp;</h2>
He also revealed that at one point he considered "spinning Instagram", that is, making it a separate entity. In a 2018 email to his executives, Zuckerberg wrote that, ​​"while most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they&rsquo;ve been split up," The Verge reported.
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The FTC alleges that Facebook was showing more and more ads to users, knowing fully well that they had nowhere else to go. Zuckerberg responded that users "think ads are as good as regular posts", and the company thought about making "a feed full of only ads."
<h2>Zuckerberg's offer to buy Snapchat</h2>
Meta also wanted to buy Snapchat, and in October 2013, he told his executives that news might leak that they offered $6 billion to acquire Snapchat. &ldquo;I delivered the offer to Evan [Spiegel, Snapchat&rsquo;s CEO] and he seemed to take it well,&rdquo; Zuckerberg wrote. However, Spiegel declined the offer 5 hours later, saying that he wanted to build it himself.
Zuckerberg stated that had he accepted the offer, the platform would have grown much faster.

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg wanted to delete everyone's friend lists once each year. This was a "crazy idea" he had in 2022, amongst a few others. World Trending

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg thought about deleting everyone's Facebook friends and wanted to create a feed consisting of only ads, The Verge reported. He made the revelation during the antitrust trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission that started on April 14. The FTC alleges that Meta, Facebook at the time, illegally monopolised the market for "personal social networking services" by buying Instagram and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg's testimony was attended by only a handful of media personnel. He talked about how competition from other platforms got to him, and he had some "crazy ideas", including wiping clean users' friends list and buying Snapchat as he tried to build his social media empire. Zuckerberg wanted to "wipe off" everyone's Facebook friend lists The Verge reported that Zuckerberg revealed that in 2022, he came up with an idea to get people to use Facebook more. He thought that if everyone's friend lists were deleted and they had to "start again", it could get them to engage more with the platform. Also Read: The 9 lives of Mark Zuckerberg: Every time Meta CEO faced scrutiny. Will he survive 'sell Instagram' trial this time? A timeline Zuckerberg felt that Facebook’s "cultural relevance is decreasing quickly", which led him to come up with the plan that he wanted to use in a staggered manner. He proposed starting the plan with a smaller country and seeing how it went. “Even if [Instagram] and [WhatsApp] do well, I don’t see a way for our company to succeed in the way we need if FB falters, so we need to get this right," he said in the Washington, DC courtroom. Zuckerberg wanted to make Instagram a separate entity He also revealed that at one point he considered "spinning Instagram", that is, making it a separate entity. In a 2018 email to his executives, Zuckerberg wrote that, "while most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they’ve been split up," The Verge reported. The FTC alleges that Facebook was showing more and more ads to users, knowing fully well that they had nowhere else to go. Zuckerberg responded that users "think ads are as good as regular posts", and the company thought about making "a feed full of only ads." Zuckerberg's offer to buy Snapchat Meta also wanted to buy Snapchat, and in October 2013, he told his executives that news might leak that they offered $6 billion to acquire Snapchat. “I delivered the offer to Evan [Spiegel, Snapchat’s CEO] and he seemed to take it well,” Zuckerberg wrote. However, Spiegel declined the offer 5 hours later, saying that he wanted to build it himself. Zuckerberg stated that had he accepted the offer, the platform would have grown much faster.

'Crazy, crazy idea': Zuckerberg wanted to delete everyone's Facebook friends lists. Here's why

Instagram WhatsApp purchase - Meta antitrust trial starts: A decade ago, Mark Zuckerberg acquired photo sharing app Instagram and instant messaging app Whatsapp for what were whopping sums. It was frowned upon at the time as an attempt by Facebook - the company that would be renamed Meta in 2021- as a way to kill off potential competition. Now, that issue is coming back to bite Zuckerburg, as an antitrust case filed by US Federal Trade Commission or FTC starts its blockbuster trial from Monday (Apr 14).&nbsp;
<h2>Meta antitrust case: Will Meta lose Instagram, WhatsApp?</h2>
If FTC wins, Meta will have to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
But the trial could last for weeks, and Meta is determined to push back against having to divest WhatsApp and Instagram.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-accused-by-whistleblower-of-compromising-us-national-security-report-8943915">Meta accused by whistleblower of compromising US national security: Report</a>
FTC is a powerful, independent agency whose primary responsibility is enforcing antitrust laws and consumer protection. In its court filings, the FTC alleged that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp violated the competition laws of the US. It said that Meta is monopolising the personal social networking market.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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After their acquisition by Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram became the social media giant's crown jewels, helping Meta evolve into one of the Big Tech giants.
In spite of the rise of rivals, Instagram is still dominant in the photo and video sharing space, while WhatsApp is practically unrivalled on the personal messaging front.
<h2>How will the Meta antitrust case unfold? Who will testify? </h2>
A court in Washington will hear FTC's case, in which the top executives of Meta's rivals Tiktok, Snap Inc, and YouTube are expected to testify.&nbsp;
For Meta, former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Instagram cofounder Kevin Systrom and other former and current officials will take the stand besides Zuckerberg.
<h2>What is the FTC saying about Meta's acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram?</h2>
Instagram was bought by Facebook for a then-unprecedented sum of $1 billion in 2012.
Two years later, Facebook acquired WhatsApp, the rising star of instant messaging, for an even more eye-watering $19 billion.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-blocked-in-this-country-over-fake-news-hate-speech-and-porn-government-warns-its-national-threat-8889442">Facebook blocked in THIS country over &lsquo;fake news, hate speech, and porn&rsquo;; government warns it&rsquo;s national threat</a>
The FTC is seeking to cleale off the two crown jewels from Meta, saying it should not have been allowed to make these acquisitions.
&ldquo;Acquiring these competitive threats has enabled Facebook to sustain its dominance&mdash;to the detriment of competition and users&mdash;not by competing on the merits, but by avoiding competition,&rdquo; the FTC said in a legal filing.
<h2>What is Meta saying about the acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram?</h2>
Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, said in a pretrial argument that it was not a monopoly.
It claimed that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp had not harmed competition.&nbsp;
It would insist in the trial that Instagram users had a better experience since it was taken over.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-bans-under-16s-from-going-live-on-instagram-heres-what-new-safety-rules-mean-for-parents-8939651">Meta bans under-16s from going live on Instagram: Here's what new safety rules mean for parents</a>
But FTC is arguing that these acquisitions were done to eliminate competition.
Back when these acquisitions were made, the FTC had approved it, with the caveat that it would continue to monitor the results of the purchases.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/even-jurassic-world-makers-couldnt-convince-scarlett-johansson-to-join-instagram-8845195">Even Jurassic World makers couldn't convince Scarlett Johansson to join Instagram</a>
According to reports, Zuckerberg's emails at the time of the acquisitions will play out in court as evidence. As per some of these emails, he said that it would be better to buy the rivals than to compete with them.

FTC alleged that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp violated competition laws of the US. business & economy trending science & technology

Instagram WhatsApp purchase - Meta antitrust trial starts: A decade ago, Mark Zuckerberg acquired photo sharing app Instagram and instant messaging app Whatsapp for what were whopping sums. It was frowned upon at the time as an attempt by Facebook - the company that would be renamed Meta in 2021- as a way to kill off potential competition. Now, that issue is coming back to bite Zuckerburg, as an antitrust case filed by US Federal Trade Commission or FTC starts its blockbuster trial from Monday (Apr 14). Meta antitrust case: Will Meta lose Instagram, WhatsApp? If FTC wins, Meta will have to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. But the trial could last for weeks, and Meta is determined to push back against having to divest WhatsApp and Instagram. Meta accused by whistleblower of compromising US national security: Report FTC is a powerful, independent agency whose primary responsibility is enforcing antitrust laws and consumer protection. In its court filings, the FTC alleged that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp violated the competition laws of the US. It said that Meta is monopolising the personal social networking market. After their acquisition by Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram became the social media giant's crown jewels, helping Meta evolve into one of the Big Tech giants. In spite of the rise of rivals, Instagram is still dominant in the photo and video sharing space, while WhatsApp is practically unrivalled on the personal messaging front. How will the Meta antitrust case unfold? Who will testify? A court in Washington will hear FTC's case, in which the top executives of Meta's rivals Tiktok, Snap Inc, and YouTube are expected to testify. For Meta, former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Instagram cofounder Kevin Systrom and other former and current officials will take the stand besides Zuckerberg. What is the FTC saying about Meta's acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram? Instagram was bought by Facebook for a then-unprecedented sum of $1 billion in 2012. Two years later, Facebook acquired WhatsApp, the rising star of instant messaging, for an even more eye-watering $19 billion. Facebook blocked in THIS country over ‘fake news, hate speech, and porn’; government warns it’s national threat The FTC is seeking to cleale off the two crown jewels from Meta, saying it should not have been allowed to make these acquisitions. “Acquiring these competitive threats has enabled Facebook to sustain its dominance—to the detriment of competition and users—not by competing on the merits, but by avoiding competition,” the FTC said in a legal filing. What is Meta saying about the acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram? Meta, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, said in a pretrial argument that it was not a monopoly. It claimed that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp had not harmed competition. It would insist in the trial that Instagram users had a better experience since it was taken over. Meta bans under-16s from going live on Instagram: Here's what new safety rules mean for parents But FTC is arguing that these acquisitions were done to eliminate competition. Back when these acquisitions were made, the FTC had approved it, with the caveat that it would continue to monitor the results of the purchases. Even Jurassic World makers couldn't convince Scarlett Johansson to join Instagram According to reports, Zuckerberg's emails at the time of the acquisitions will play out in court as evidence. As per some of these emails, he said that it would be better to buy the rivals than to compete with them.

Will Zuckerberg lose Instagram, Whatsapp? Landmark antitrust case could force Meta to divest crown jewels | Details here

After US President Donald Trump imposed "reciprocal tariffs" on several countries, the world's 500 richest people saw a decline in their combined wealth, losing USD 208 billion in 24 hours after the announcement.
It is indeed one of the largest fall in fortunes in over a decade.&nbsp;
The new tariffs have impacted multiple billionaires, Sputnik reported citing data from the Bloomberg Billionaire Index (BBI) compiled by Bloomberg on Friday.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-hits-back-at-us-with-34-tariffs-on-american-goods-from-april-10-donald-trump-xi-jinping-beijing-reciprocal-tariffs-8925713">'Typical unilateral bullying practice': China hits back at US with 34% tariffs on American goods from April 10</a>
The plunge in the combined wealth of the world's top 500 billionaires is the fourth-largest one-day decline since the BBI was launched 13 years ago and the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The effect of tariffs did not even spare Trump's closest aide Elon Musk.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/penguin-memes-flood-internet-after-trump-tariffs-hit-uninhabited-antarctic-islands-8926344">Penguin memes flood internet after Trump tariffs hit uninhabited Antarctic islands</a>
<h2>Who are the billionaires?</h2>
The billionaires in the US have been hit majorly, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, before American stock markets opened.&nbsp;
Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg was the biggest loser in dollar terms, with the social media company's nine per cent slide, with costing his chief executive officer $17.9 billion, or around nine per cent of his wealth.
Up next is Jeff Bezos, the next biggest loser in the list. Bezos lost $15.9 billion in wealth after Amazon shares plunged nine per cent on Thursday marking their biggest decline since 2022.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-fires-nsc-officials-who-are-they-impact-on-us-national-security-8924331">Donald Trump fires NSC officials, who are they? What is its impact on US national security</a>
While, Trump's buddy Tesla CEO and DOGE leader Elon Musk lost $11 billion on Thursday, as his care company's shares fell 5.5 per cent following Trump's tariff announcement on Liberation Day.&nbsp;
<h2>See the full list:&nbsp;</h2>
<figure class="image"><img alt="Who are the billionaires?" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x720/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/media_files/2025/04/04/xwMTJciz23f6DDQbYc6n.png" style="width: 1280px;">
<figcaption></figcaption>
</figure>
Moreover, the only billionaire living outside the US, who suffered the impact of Trump's tariffs, was France's Bernard Arnault. Arnault's LVMH, a conglomerate which owns brands including Christian Dior, Bulgari and Loro Piana, saw its shares fall in Paris, wiping $6 billion off the net worth of Europe's richest person.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hes-too-hot-bill-oreilly-asks-trump-to-move-on-from-his-buddy-elon-musk-says-hes-a-short-timer-8926006">'He's too hot': Bill O'Reilly warns Trump to move on from his 'buddy' Elon Musk, says he's a 'short timer'</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: The new tariffs have impacted multiple billionaires, Sputnik reported citing data from the Bloomberg Billionaire Index (BBI) compiled by Bloomberg on Friday.

After US President Donald Trump imposed "reciprocal tariffs" on several countries, the world's 500 richest people saw a decline in their combined wealth, losing USD 208 billion in 24 hours after the announcement. It is indeed one of the largest fall in fortunes in over a decade. The new tariffs have impacted multiple billionaires, Sputnik reported citing data from the Bloomberg Billionaire Index (BBI) compiled by Bloomberg on Friday. Also read: 'Typical unilateral bullying practice': China hits back at US with 34% tariffs on American goods from April 10 The plunge in the combined wealth of the world's top 500 billionaires is the fourth-largest one-day decline since the BBI was launched 13 years ago and the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic. The effect of tariffs did not even spare Trump's closest aide Elon Musk. Also read: Penguin memes flood internet after Trump tariffs hit uninhabited Antarctic islands Who are the billionaires? The billionaires in the US have been hit majorly, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, before American stock markets opened. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg was the biggest loser in dollar terms, with the social media company's nine per cent slide, with costing his chief executive officer $17.9 billion, or around nine per cent of his wealth. Up next is Jeff Bezos, the next biggest loser in the list. Bezos lost $15.9 billion in wealth after Amazon shares plunged nine per cent on Thursday marking their biggest decline since 2022. Also read: Donald Trump fires NSC officials, who are they? What is its impact on US national security While, Trump's buddy Tesla CEO and DOGE leader Elon Musk lost $11 billion on Thursday, as his care company's shares fell 5.5 per cent following Trump's tariff announcement on Liberation Day. See the full list: Moreover, the only billionaire living outside the US, who suffered the impact of Trump's tariffs, was France's Bernard Arnault. Arnault's LVMH, a conglomerate which owns brands including Christian Dior, Bulgari and Loro Piana, saw its shares fall in Paris, wiping $6 billion off the net worth of Europe's richest person. Also read: 'He's too hot': Bill O'Reilly warns Trump to move on from his 'buddy' Elon Musk, says he's a 'short timer' (With inputs from agencies)

Trump tariffs after-effect: Billionaires lost combined $208 billion; Musk, Zuckerberg biggest losers. FULL LIST HERE

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that he was "almost sentenced to death in Pakistan" over alleged blasphemous content on his social media platform. During a recent interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg talked about the challenges faced by social media platforms because of government laws and regulations in different countries.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-stunning-visuals-of-hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-as-it-spews-lava-8713514" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watch stunning visuals of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano as it spews lava</a>&nbsp;
Zuckerberg said, "There are laws in different countries that we disagree with. For example, there was a time when someone was trying to get me sentenced to death in Pakistan because someone on Facebook had a drawing of the Prophet Muhammad, and someone said 'that's blasphemy in our culture'."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/scientists-discover-worlds-largest-underground-thermal-lake-in-albania-8713278">Scientists discover world's largest underground thermal lake in Albania</a>&nbsp;
Zuckerberg added that he was sued and criminal proceedings were started against him. "But I am not planning to go to Pakistan, so I'm not worried about it," he said, further adding that the situation was a "little disconcerting", adding that "it's not great (if you're) flying over that region, you don't want your plane to go down above Pakistan."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m71o8rgr-9ncd39yw-2o4zdwdj">
Mark Zuckerberg: There was someone trying to have me sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy. They opened criminal proceedings against me. I don't know when, I'm just not planning to go to Pakistan, so I'm not worried about it. <a href="https://t.co/er8Fx9Rp93">pic.twitter.com/er8Fx9Rp93</a>
&mdash; PREM.⚡️ (@TweetsOfPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TweetsOfPR/status/1888899646048641314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
The tech billionaire said that different values that often go against freedom of expression persist across the world. Some want a crackdown or ban on things "we would believe is the right thing to do".&nbsp;
"To have those governments exert that kind of power is a lot of force. This is one of the things that the US government is probably going to need to help defend American tech companies abroad," he said.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a aria-label="Trump grants Musk veto power over federal hirings, orders agencies to comply with DOGE directives" class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-grants-musk-veto-power-over-federal-hirings-orders-agencies-to-comply-with-doge-directives-in-sweeping-executive-order-8712476" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Trump grants Musk veto power over federal hirings, orders agencies to comply with DOGE directives</a>&nbsp;
<h2>Jesse Eisenberg's comment on Zuckerberg</h2>
Recently, in an interview with the news agency AFP, Hollywood star Jesse Eisenberg said that the Facebook owner had evolved from having "a sense of righteousness" into "somebody obsessed with power".&nbsp;
Eisenberg played Zuckerberg in the 2010 hit "The Social Network" movie directed by David Fincher.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a aria-label="Japan to expand nuclear power over a decade after Fukushima disaster: Report" class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-to-expand-nuclear-power-over-a-decade-after-fukushima-disaster-8712543" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Japan to expand nuclear power over a decade after Fukushima disaster: Report</a>&nbsp;
"As an actor, your job is to empathise with the character, not only empathise but justify," Eisenberg said.&nbsp;
"I was thinking of the (Zuckerberg) character as somebody who was able to understand certain things so much quicker than other people, and who had a kind of sense of righteousness that was born out of his own brilliance," he explained.&nbsp;
But 15 years later, with Zuckerberg shifting his political views to align with Donald Trump's new administration and cutting fact-checking on the US platform, Eisenberg has revised his opinions.&nbsp;
"You kind of wonder like 'oh, so this person didn't evolve into a profile in courage'. This person evolved into somebody obsessed with avarice and power and so that's kind of interesting for me as an actor who at one point thought about this person a lot," the 41-year-old added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

World | Zuckerberg mentions a lawsuit and criminal proceedings initiated against him in Pakistan, expressing concerns over flying above the region due to legal risks.

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that he was "almost sentenced to death in Pakistan" over alleged blasphemous content on his social media platform. During a recent interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg talked about the challenges faced by social media platforms because of government laws and regulations in different countries. Also read: Watch stunning visuals of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano as it spews lava Zuckerberg said, "There are laws in different countries that we disagree with. For example, there was a time when someone was trying to get me sentenced to death in Pakistan because someone on Facebook had a drawing of the Prophet Muhammad, and someone said 'that's blasphemy in our culture'." Also read: Scientists discover world's largest underground thermal lake in Albania Zuckerberg added that he was sued and criminal proceedings were started against him. "But I am not planning to go to Pakistan, so I'm not worried about it," he said, further adding that the situation was a "little disconcerting", adding that "it's not great (if you're) flying over that region, you don't want your plane to go down above Pakistan." Mark Zuckerberg: There was someone trying to have me sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy. They opened criminal proceedings against me. I don't know when, I'm just not planning to go to Pakistan, so I'm not worried about it. pic.twitter.com/er8Fx9Rp93 — PREM.⚡️ (@TweetsOfPR) February 10, 2025 The tech billionaire said that different values that often go against freedom of expression persist across the world. Some want a crackdown or ban on things "we would believe is the right thing to do". "To have those governments exert that kind of power is a lot of force. This is one of the things that the US government is probably going to need to help defend American tech companies abroad," he said. Also read: Trump grants Musk veto power over federal hirings, orders agencies to comply with DOGE directives Jesse Eisenberg's comment on Zuckerberg Recently, in an interview with the news agency AFP, Hollywood star Jesse Eisenberg said that the Facebook owner had evolved from having "a sense of righteousness" into "somebody obsessed with power". Eisenberg played Zuckerberg in the 2010 hit "The Social Network" movie directed by David Fincher. Also read: Japan to expand nuclear power over a decade after Fukushima disaster: Report "As an actor, your job is to empathise with the character, not only empathise but justify," Eisenberg said. "I was thinking of the (Zuckerberg) character as somebody who was able to understand certain things so much quicker than other people, and who had a kind of sense of righteousness that was born out of his own brilliance," he explained. But 15 years later, with Zuckerberg shifting his political views to align with Donald Trump's new administration and cutting fact-checking on the US platform, Eisenberg has revised his opinions. "You kind of wonder like 'oh, so this person didn't evolve into a profile in courage'. This person evolved into somebody obsessed with avarice and power and so that's kind of interesting for me as an actor who at one point thought about this person a lot," the 41-year-old added. (With inputs from agencies)

Mark Zuckerberg says he was 'almost sentenced to death in Pakistan' - VIDEO

Following Meta's recent decision to remove tampons from men's bathrooms in its offices, some employees have reportedly begun staging "quiet rebellions" by bringing in their own supplies, according to a report by The New York Times.
At the beginning of January, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-has-meta-agreed-to-pay-25-mn-to-us-president-trump-8669842">CEO Mark Zuckerberg</a> introduced several internal and external policy changes. These included lifting restrictions on speech to "restore free expression" across Meta platforms and revising the company's "Hateful Conduct" policy.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-for-free-speech-advocacy-billionaire-turns-down-offer-8678649" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Elon Musk nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for 'free speech advocacy', billionaire turns down offer</a>
One particular move that didn't sit well with some employees was the removal of sanitary products from men's bathrooms. Meta had previously provided these items for nonbinary and transgender staff members.
According to The New York Times, "To protest Zuckerberg's actions, some Meta workers soon brought their own tampons, pads and liners to the men's bathrooms, five people with knowledge of the effort said. A group of employees also circulated a petition to save the tampons."
The petition called for Meta's leadership to reinstate tampons and other menstrual products in men's bathrooms. In response, Meta&rsquo;s vice president of workplace services said that the company had no plans to reverse the decision. 
"The sanitary products were emblematic of the quiet rebellions that Silicon Valley workers have staged as they grapple with the rightward shift of their bosses," The New York Times reported.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-turns-washingtons-doge-office-into-his-bedroom-8678366" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Also read: Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom</a>
While Meta's leadership is seen as publicly aligning with US President Donald Trump, some employees are engaging in "subtle acts of defiance," the report claimed.
The Times also reported that, according to an internal poll, some Meta employees were keen to ask Zuckerberg during an upcoming company Q&amp;A how women in the organisation could contribute "masculine energy" to the workplace. This follows comments Zuckerberg made during a 10 January interview with Joe Rogan, where he stated: "Masculine energy I think is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think corporate culture was really trying to get away from it."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-inauguration-from-elon-musks-nazi-salute-to-mark-zuckerbergs-bad-boy-moment-these-are-the-viral-moments-you-cannot-miss-8640494">Trump inauguration: From Elon Musk's Nazi salute to Mark Zuckerberg's 'bad boy' moment, these are the viral instances you cannot miss</a>
He added, "If you&rsquo;re a woman going into a company, it probably feels like it&rsquo;s too masculine. There isn&rsquo;t enough of the energy that you may naturally have. You want women to be able to succeed and have companies that can unlock all the value from having great people, no matter what their background or gender."
(With inputs from agencies)

World, Trending news: Meta had previously provided sanitary products including tampons in male washrooms for nonbinary and transgender staff members.

Following Meta's recent decision to remove tampons from men's bathrooms in its offices, some employees have reportedly begun staging "quiet rebellions" by bringing in their own supplies, according to a report by The New York Times. At the beginning of January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced several internal and external policy changes. These included lifting restrictions on speech to "restore free expression" across Meta platforms and revising the company's "Hateful Conduct" policy. Also read: Elon Musk nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for 'free speech advocacy', billionaire turns down offer One particular move that didn't sit well with some employees was the removal of sanitary products from men's bathrooms. Meta had previously provided these items for nonbinary and transgender staff members. According to The New York Times, "To protest Zuckerberg's actions, some Meta workers soon brought their own tampons, pads and liners to the men's bathrooms, five people with knowledge of the effort said. A group of employees also circulated a petition to save the tampons." The petition called for Meta's leadership to reinstate tampons and other menstrual products in men's bathrooms. In response, Meta’s vice president of workplace services said that the company had no plans to reverse the decision. "The sanitary products were emblematic of the quiet rebellions that Silicon Valley workers have staged as they grapple with the rightward shift of their bosses," The New York Times reported. Also read: Elon Musk turns Washington's DOGE office into his bedroom While Meta's leadership is seen as publicly aligning with US President Donald Trump, some employees are engaging in "subtle acts of defiance," the report claimed. The Times also reported that, according to an internal poll, some Meta employees were keen to ask Zuckerberg during an upcoming company Q&A how women in the organisation could contribute "masculine energy" to the workplace. This follows comments Zuckerberg made during a 10 January interview with Joe Rogan, where he stated: "Masculine energy I think is good, and obviously society has plenty of that, but I think corporate culture was really trying to get away from it." Also read: Trump inauguration: From Elon Musk's Nazi salute to Mark Zuckerberg's 'bad boy' moment, these are the viral instances you cannot miss He added, "If you’re a woman going into a company, it probably feels like it’s too masculine. There isn’t enough of the energy that you may naturally have. You want women to be able to succeed and have companies that can unlock all the value from having great people, no matter what their background or gender." (With inputs from agencies)

Meta employees stage ‘quiet rebellion’ over removal of tampons from men’s bathrooms

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly blamed a former executive, Sheryl Sandberg, for &lsquo;culture-related problems&rsquo; at the company during a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump. Sandberg left Meta in 2022 and was serving as chief operating officer. New York Times reported that Zuckerberg pushed the former executive under the bus in the meeting with the GOP leader at Mar-a-Lago resort.
The Meta CEO is also believed to have held discussions with top Trump advisers, including Stephen Miller, on immigration and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
<h2>Zuckerberg&rsquo;s accusation</h2>
During the meeting, the Meta chief accused Sandberg of initiating schemes that encouraged inclusivity. Zuckerberg added that he was now planning to press the company's reset button and fire some of the employees.
Sandberg remained on Meta&rsquo;s board till last year. When she exited the company, Zuckerberg posted a long, heartfelt message on social media, lauding her contribution over the years.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/neo-nazi-madness-zuckerberg-slammed-by-meta-lawyer-techie-over-masculine-energy-comment-8629486">&lsquo;Neo-Nazi madness': Zuckerberg slammed by Meta lawyer, techie over &lsquo;masculine energy&rsquo; comment</a>
&ldquo;Sheryl hired great people and taught me how to run a company. She deserves credit for so much of what Meta is today,&rdquo; Zuckerberg wrote in the post.
At the time of resignation, there were no signs of bad blood between the two executives.
In a 2024 interview, Zuckerberg was quoted as saying by MorningBrew that Sandberg raised him &ldquo;like a parent almost&rdquo; and they remain &ldquo;pretty close friends.&rdquo;
<h2>Zuckerberg&rsquo;s radical shift towards the right</h2>
The Meta CEO over the past weeks has taken drastic steps to steer the company to the right. The company earlier donated $1 million to the president-elect&rsquo;s inaugural fund. Zuckerberg declared Meta was going to bury fact-checking and DEI initiatives. The company also got rid of diversity hiring goals for women and minorities.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-closes-its-diversity-office-ahead-of-donald-trumps-return-to-white-house-us-president-elect-alleges-corruption-8629574">FBI closes its diversity office ahead of Trump's return to White House, US president-elect alleges 'corruption'</a>
The Meta chief even blasted advisors of outgoing US President Joe Biden, saying they would &ldquo;curse&rdquo; and &ldquo;scream&rdquo; at Meta officials to get things done.
&ldquo;They pushed us super hard to take down things that honestly were true,&rdquo; said Zuckerberg.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Zuckerberg reportedly pushed the former executive, Sheryl Sandberg, under the bus in the meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago resort.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly blamed a former executive, Sheryl Sandberg, for ‘culture-related problems’ at the company during a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump. Sandberg left Meta in 2022 and was serving as chief operating officer. New York Times reported that Zuckerberg pushed the former executive under the bus in the meeting with the GOP leader at Mar-a-Lago resort. The Meta CEO is also believed to have held discussions with top Trump advisers, including Stephen Miller, on immigration and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Zuckerberg’s accusation During the meeting, the Meta chief accused Sandberg of initiating schemes that encouraged inclusivity. Zuckerberg added that he was now planning to press the company's reset button and fire some of the employees. Sandberg remained on Meta’s board till last year. When she exited the company, Zuckerberg posted a long, heartfelt message on social media, lauding her contribution over the years. Also read: ‘Neo-Nazi madness': Zuckerberg slammed by Meta lawyer, techie over ‘masculine energy’ comment “Sheryl hired great people and taught me how to run a company. She deserves credit for so much of what Meta is today,” Zuckerberg wrote in the post. At the time of resignation, there were no signs of bad blood between the two executives. In a 2024 interview, Zuckerberg was quoted as saying by MorningBrew that Sandberg raised him “like a parent almost” and they remain “pretty close friends.” Zuckerberg’s radical shift towards the right The Meta CEO over the past weeks has taken drastic steps to steer the company to the right. The company earlier donated $1 million to the president-elect’s inaugural fund. Zuckerberg declared Meta was going to bury fact-checking and DEI initiatives. The company also got rid of diversity hiring goals for women and minorities. Also read: FBI closes its diversity office ahead of Trump's return to White House, US president-elect alleges 'corruption' The Meta chief even blasted advisors of outgoing US President Joe Biden, saying they would “curse” and “scream” at Meta officials to get things done. “They pushed us super hard to take down things that honestly were true,” said Zuckerberg. (With inputs from agencies)

Zuckerberg blamed 'close friend' Sheryl Sandberg for ‘cultural’ issues at Meta in Trump meeting

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg last week set the cat among the pigeons by saying he thought the corporate world had become &ldquo;culturally neutered&rdquo; and needed &ldquo;masculine energy&rdquo; to fire up. He made these comments on Joe Rogan&rsquo;s podcast soon after taking drastic steps that indicated Meta&rsquo;s sharp turn towards the right. Earlier, Zuckerberg announced Meta was going to bury fact-checking and DEI initiatives ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
&ldquo;I do think a lot of our society has become&hellip;kind of like neutered, or like emasculated,&rdquo; Zuckerberg said. &ldquo;When you are running a company, people don&rsquo;t want to see you being like this ruthless person.&rdquo;
<h2>Comments spark outrage</h2>
Zuckerberg&rsquo;s comments didn&rsquo;t go down well with professionals and techies, who were quick to condemn the META CEO&rsquo;s newfound chauvinism.
Mark Lemley, an attorney who earlier represented Meta in a lawsuit concerning the alleged use of copyright texts for training artificial intelligence, said he was dropping the company as a client following what he called &ldquo;Facebook&rsquo;s descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness.&rdquo;
The Stanford Law School professor&rsquo;s name was later removed from Meta&rsquo;s roster.
Though the lawyer agreed that Meta was on the right side of the copyright case, he said, &ldquo;I cannot in good conscience serve as their lawyer any longer.&rdquo;
The attorney alleged that Meta was allowing &ldquo;allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation&rdquo;.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-supporters-press-zuckerberg-to-release-facebook-files-as-meta-steers-to-right-8623982">Trump supporters press Zuckerberg to release Facebook Files as Meta steers to right</a>
Zuckerberg&rsquo;s comments also drew a sharp rebuke from Kelley Greene, a techie working in the tech industry for 15 years. &ldquo;As a woman who spent 15 years working in the tech industry, I absolutely disagree,&rdquo; she wrote in a hard-hitting op-ed.
&ldquo;During my career, as I walked past ping-pong tables and kegerators, shrugged off inappropriate jokes, got asked to take notes in meetings, and had my ideas dismissed, I never once felt a lack of masculine energy,&rdquo; the techie quipped.
&ldquo;Tech has always been a boys&rsquo; club,&rdquo; she added.
<h2>Reactions on social media</h2>
On social media too, people went all guns blazing after Zuckerberg.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-mark-zuckerberg-firing-employees-in-meta-ahead-of-fy2025-8623819">Why is Mark Zuckerberg firing employees in Meta ahead of FY2025?</a>
&ldquo;Perfect example of someone changing their opinion as soon as the government changes,&rdquo; wrote one user.
&ldquo;Bro watching too much Andrew Tate,&rdquo; another added.
&ldquo;This dude is panicking. I don&rsquo;t believe a thing he&rsquo;s saying for a second,&rdquo; a third added.

World | Zuckerberg’s comments didn’t go down well with professionals and techies, who were quick to condemn the META CEO’s newfound chauvinism.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg last week set the cat among the pigeons by saying he thought the corporate world had become “culturally neutered” and needed “masculine energy” to fire up. He made these comments on Joe Rogan’s podcast soon after taking drastic steps that indicated Meta’s sharp turn towards the right. Earlier, Zuckerberg announced Meta was going to bury fact-checking and DEI initiatives ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. “I do think a lot of our society has become…kind of like neutered, or like emasculated,” Zuckerberg said. “When you are running a company, people don’t want to see you being like this ruthless person.” Comments spark outrage Zuckerberg’s comments didn’t go down well with professionals and techies, who were quick to condemn the META CEO’s newfound chauvinism. Mark Lemley, an attorney who earlier represented Meta in a lawsuit concerning the alleged use of copyright texts for training artificial intelligence, said he was dropping the company as a client following what he called “Facebook’s descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness.” The Stanford Law School professor’s name was later removed from Meta’s roster. Though the lawyer agreed that Meta was on the right side of the copyright case, he said, “I cannot in good conscience serve as their lawyer any longer.” The attorney alleged that Meta was allowing “allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation”. Also read: Trump supporters press Zuckerberg to release Facebook Files as Meta steers to right Zuckerberg’s comments also drew a sharp rebuke from Kelley Greene, a techie working in the tech industry for 15 years. “As a woman who spent 15 years working in the tech industry, I absolutely disagree,” she wrote in a hard-hitting op-ed. “During my career, as I walked past ping-pong tables and kegerators, shrugged off inappropriate jokes, got asked to take notes in meetings, and had my ideas dismissed, I never once felt a lack of masculine energy,” the techie quipped. “Tech has always been a boys’ club,” she added. Reactions on social media On social media too, people went all guns blazing after Zuckerberg. Also read: Why is Mark Zuckerberg firing employees in Meta ahead of FY2025? “Perfect example of someone changing their opinion as soon as the government changes,” wrote one user. “Bro watching too much Andrew Tate,” another added. “This dude is panicking. I don’t believe a thing he’s saying for a second,” a third added.

‘Neo-Nazi madness': Zuckerberg slammed by Meta lawyer, techie over ‘masculine energy’ comment

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to cut approximately 5% of its workforce via performance-based terminations. Watch this report for more details!

Meta planning to lay off 5 pc of its workforce in round of performance-linked job cuts

Days after Mark Zuckerberg remarks on a podcast that several governments, including the one in India, lost power in elections held after the Covid-19 pandemic, Meta apologised for the comments.

Meta apologises for Zuckerberg's remark on India 2024 polls

US right-wing is pressing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to release what they are calling &ldquo;Facebook Files&rdquo;, referring to internal documents and conversations at the company regarding content moderation. The US techie has drastically steered Meta to the right ahead of the inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump.
Zuckerberg earlier shut down Meta&rsquo;s fact-checking and moderation systems, arguing they promoted censorship and curtailed freedom of speech. Meta has also made some changes to its policy on political content, saying it will again start recommending posts on politics.
Meta is also ending its programmes aimed at hiring diverse candidates, including disbanding its diversity, equity and inclusion team and getting rid of its &ldquo;Diverse Slate Approach&rdquo; in its hiring process.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mozambiques-daniel-chapo-swears-in-as-new-president-post-election-unrest-8623859">Mozambique's Daniel Chapo swears in as new president post-election unrest</a>
But US right-wing and Trump supporters are looking askance upon Zuckerberg&rsquo;s drastic shift. Trump and his loyalists spent years accusing Zuckerberg of sucking up to the administration of Joe Biden and suppressing conservative narratives and accounts across Meta platforms.
&ldquo;If Zuckeberg is serious about transparency, then it&rsquo;s time for the Facebook Files,&rdquo; wrote one user Mario Nawfal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5xsv4pq-t20zf2yd-2q7ih4fr">
🚨 WAIT, COULD WE BE SEEING FACEBOOK FILES? If Zuckeberg is serious about transparency, then it&rsquo;s time for the Facebook Files. Let&rsquo;s see all the back-and-forth between the government and Facebook on COVID/vaccine censorship &mdash; not just carefully selected emails. We&rsquo;ve seen the&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/eadLrm16JO">https://t.co/eadLrm16JO</a>
&mdash; Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1879408958642811241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s see all the back-and-forth between the government and Facebook on COVID/vaccine censorship &mdash; not just carefully selected emails.&rdquo;
People are asking Zuckerberg to release Facebook Files on the lines of Twitter Files released by Elon Musk when he bought the platform.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-to-co-host-reception-for-trumps-inauguration-8623368">Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to co-host reception for Trump&rsquo;s inauguration</a>
Musk showed "what really happened" behind the scenes regarding content moderation decisions at the social media company. Twitter Files consisted of thousands of documents, including many Slack discussions, between Twitter employees about their content moderation practices.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5xsve8y-6i2tlsb7-4dhl1qvu">
That would be great <a href="https://t.co/4EMb1zuw4P">https://t.co/4EMb1zuw4P</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1879415680396931367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk has also agreed to the idea of Zuckerberg releasing Facebook Files. Reacting to Mario Nawfal&rsquo;s post on X, Musk wrote, &ldquo;"That would be great".

World | Trump and his loyalists spent years accusing Zuckerberg of sucking up to Joe Biden's administration and suppressing conservative narratives across Meta platforms. 

US right-wing is pressing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to release what they are calling “Facebook Files”, referring to internal documents and conversations at the company regarding content moderation. The US techie has drastically steered Meta to the right ahead of the inauguration ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. Zuckerberg earlier shut down Meta’s fact-checking and moderation systems, arguing they promoted censorship and curtailed freedom of speech. Meta has also made some changes to its policy on political content, saying it will again start recommending posts on politics. Meta is also ending its programmes aimed at hiring diverse candidates, including disbanding its diversity, equity and inclusion team and getting rid of its “Diverse Slate Approach” in its hiring process. Also read: Mozambique's Daniel Chapo swears in as new president post-election unrest But US right-wing and Trump supporters are looking askance upon Zuckerberg’s drastic shift. Trump and his loyalists spent years accusing Zuckerberg of sucking up to the administration of Joe Biden and suppressing conservative narratives and accounts across Meta platforms. “If Zuckeberg is serious about transparency, then it’s time for the Facebook Files,” wrote one user Mario Nawfal. 🚨 WAIT, COULD WE BE SEEING FACEBOOK FILES? If Zuckeberg is serious about transparency, then it’s time for the Facebook Files. Let’s see all the back-and-forth between the government and Facebook on COVID/vaccine censorship — not just carefully selected emails. We’ve seen the… https://t.co/eadLrm16JO — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 15, 2025 “Let’s see all the back-and-forth between the government and Facebook on COVID/vaccine censorship — not just carefully selected emails.” People are asking Zuckerberg to release Facebook Files on the lines of Twitter Files released by Elon Musk when he bought the platform. Also read: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to co-host reception for Trump’s inauguration Musk showed "what really happened" behind the scenes regarding content moderation decisions at the social media company. Twitter Files consisted of thousands of documents, including many Slack discussions, between Twitter employees about their content moderation practices. That would be great https://t.co/4EMb1zuw4P — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2025 Musk has also agreed to the idea of Zuckerberg releasing Facebook Files. Reacting to Mario Nawfal’s post on X, Musk wrote, “"That would be great".

Trump supporters press Zuckerberg to release Facebook Files as Meta steers to right

Mark <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-to-co-host-reception-for-trumps-inauguration-8623368">Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;is planning to fire 5 per cent of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meta-apologises-over-zuckerbergs-remark-on-2024-elections-inadvertent-error-8623244">Meta</a> workforce which will come under the category of "poor performers". The company, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has 72,000 people working globally which means around 3,600 people will be affected by the plan. The company further said to hire new employees in the year 2025&nbsp;
<h3>'Intense Year'</h3>
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/onlyfans-to-monkhood-ash-edelmans-inspiring-journey-from-glamour-to-spirituality-8623418" aria-label="OnlyFans to monkhood: Ash Edelman&rsquo;s inspiring journey from stripper to spirituality">OnlyFans to monkhood: Ash Edelman&rsquo;s inspiring journey from stripper to spirituality</a>
In a memo to staff, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he has decided to "move out low-performers faster" as 2025 would be an "intense year." He said the decision will help accelerate Meta's usual performance management system.&nbsp;
The US employees who will be affected by the decision will be notified by February 10, while those outside the US will be told later.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-to-co-host-reception-for-trumps-inauguration-8623368" aria-label="Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to co-host reception for Trump&rsquo;s inauguration">Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to co-host reception for Trump&rsquo;s inauguration</a>
In his memo, Zuckerberg said he has decided to "raise the bar" on performance. Bloomberg was the first to report on the memo.&nbsp;
He further said that although the company "typically" manages out people who are not delivering up to the expectation, this time the company is "going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle". The 40-year-old added that he wants the "best people" in his team this year.&nbsp;
The termination plan will be implemented for staff who have spent long enough in the organisation to assess performance. Zuckerberg further added that Meta would &ldquo;provide generous severance&rdquo; for those who would lose their jobs as per this plan.&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/la-wildfires-amid-limited-fresh-water-supply-seawater-being-used-to-douse-fires-8623200" aria-label="LA wildfires: Amid limited fresh water supply, firefighters using seawater to douse fires">LA wildfires: Amid limited fresh water supply, firefighters using seawater to douse fires</a>
<h3>Scrapping fact-checkers backfires&nbsp;</h3>
The job announcement came after Zuckerberg faced massive backlash for scrapping third-party fact-checkers who used to flag misleading content. The company said it was to prioritise free speech. Experts have raised that the decision would boost harmful content on the platforms by Meta.&nbsp;
Due to the decision, Meta faced a 2.3 per cent fall in its shares on Tuesday (Jan 14).&nbsp;
Also read | <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/steve-jobs-letter-revealing-ardent-desire-to-attend-kumbh-mela-fetches-whopping-500k-at-auction-8622997" aria-label="Steve Jobs' letter revealing ardent desire to attend Kumbh Mela fetches $500k at auction">Steve Jobs' letter revealing ardent desire to attend Kumbh Mela fetches $500k at auction</a>
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

Trending | SCIENCE & TECH | Business & Economy | World | In a memo to staff, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he has decided to "move out low-performers faster" as 2025 would be an "intense year."

Mark Zuckerberg is planning to fire 5 per cent of the Meta workforce which will come under the category of "poor performers". The company, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has 72,000 people working globally which means around 3,600 people will be affected by the plan. The company further said to hire new employees in the year 2025 'Intense Year' Also read | OnlyFans to monkhood: Ash Edelman’s inspiring journey from stripper to spirituality In a memo to staff, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he has decided to "move out low-performers faster" as 2025 would be an "intense year." He said the decision will help accelerate Meta's usual performance management system. The US employees who will be affected by the decision will be notified by February 10, while those outside the US will be told later. Also read | Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to co-host reception for Trump’s inauguration In his memo, Zuckerberg said he has decided to "raise the bar" on performance. Bloomberg was the first to report on the memo. He further said that although the company "typically" manages out people who are not delivering up to the expectation, this time the company is "going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle". The 40-year-old added that he wants the "best people" in his team this year. The termination plan will be implemented for staff who have spent long enough in the organisation to assess performance. Zuckerberg further added that Meta would “provide generous severance” for those who would lose their jobs as per this plan. Also read | LA wildfires: Amid limited fresh water supply, firefighters using seawater to douse fires Scrapping fact-checkers backfires The job announcement came after Zuckerberg faced massive backlash for scrapping third-party fact-checkers who used to flag misleading content. The company said it was to prioritise free speech. Experts have raised that the decision would boost harmful content on the platforms by Meta. Due to the decision, Meta faced a 2.3 per cent fall in its shares on Tuesday (Jan 14). Also read | Steve Jobs' letter revealing ardent desire to attend Kumbh Mela fetches $500k at auction (With inputs from agencies)

Why is Mark Zuckerberg firing employees in Meta ahead of FY2025?

Mark Zuckerberg will cohost a reception for Donald Trump&rsquo;s inauguration as the president-elect returns to the White House for his second term.
The Meta CEO, along with a few billionaire Republican donors, will be hosting the black-tie event on Monday (Jan 20) before the inaugural balls, reported The Associated Press, citing anonymous sources familiar with the private plans.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meta-apologises-over-zuckerbergs-remark-on-2024-elections-inadvertent-error-8623244" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Meta apologises over Zuckerberg's remark on 2024 elections; 'inadvertent error'</a>
The other cohosts include Miriam Adelson, the Dallas Mavericks owner and widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and Tilman Fertitta, Trump&rsquo;s pick to serve as US ambassador to Italy and Houston Rockets owner. Todd Ricketts, the co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and Ricketts&rsquo; wife, Sylvie L&eacute;g&egrave;re, will also join among the co-hosts.
An invite to the event was posted on social media by a journalist and podcaster.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-findings-at-1-am-trump-slams-jack-smiths-report-on-jan-6-case-8621954" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Fake findings at 1 am,' Trump slams Jack Smith's report on Jan 6 case</a>
&ldquo;More Zucking up... Zuckerberg to host an inaugural ball reception for Trump and Vance with Miriam Adelson, Todd Ricketts and Tilman Fertitta,&rdquo; she wrote in the post along with sharing the image of the invite.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: More Zucking up... Zuckerberg to host an inaugural ball reception for Trump and Vance with Miriam Adelson, Todd Ricketts and Tilman Fertitta <a href="https://t.co/yfpL617NO1">pic.twitter.com/yfpL617NO1</a>
&mdash; Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) <a href="https://twitter.com/tarapalmeri/status/1879275566328893824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Social media reacts to invite</h2>
Social media users were quick to notice that the name of Zuckerberg&rsquo;s wife, Priscilla Chan, was not mentioned anywhere in the invite.
People in the comments section highlighted this fact saying &ldquo;Notice it does not say Priscilla Chan,&rdquo; and &ldquo;His wife's name is missing.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zuckerbergs-latest-move-meta-orders-removal-of-tampons-from-mens-bathrooms-sparks-backlash-8612818" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Zuckerberg's latest move: Meta order for removal of tampons from men's bathrooms sparks backlash</a>
Another user wrote, &ldquo;His wife&rsquo;s name isn&rsquo;t on the invite. Interesting.&rdquo;
While other users perceive the move as Zuckerberg&rsquo;s attempt to become a close ally with the incoming US president.
&ldquo;Mark doesn&rsquo;t want to go to prison for the rest of his life. He&rsquo;s going to do exactly what he&rsquo;s told to do, when he&rsquo;s told to do it,&rdquo; a user wrote.
<h2>Zuckerberg and Trump</h2>
Zuckerberg was once seen as a foe of the former president for banning him from Instagram and Facebook after the US Capitol attack on Jan 6, 2021. However, the CEO has been aligning himself with Trump, in an attempt to improve their relationship.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/mark-zuckerberg-slams-joe-biden-administration-claims-officials-would-scream-and-curse-to-get-certain-covid-19-content-removed-from-facebook-8609556" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Zuckerberg claims Biden officials would 'scream' to enforce Covid 'censorship' on Facebook</a>
Zuckerberg dined with the Republican at his iconic Mar-a-Lago club in Florida following his win in the November elections last year. His company Meta also donated $1 million as an inauguration fund to Trump.
Last week, Zuckerberg announced a policy overhaul across Facebook and Instagram, removing third-party fact-checking on the social media platforms to promote free speech. Trump claimed that the move was &ldquo;probably&rdquo; a response to the threats made by him against the tech mogul.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | Trending | Social media users were quick to notice that the name of Zuckerberg’s wife, Priscilla Chan, was not mentioned anywhere in the invite. 

Mark Zuckerberg will cohost a reception for Donald Trump’s inauguration as the president-elect returns to the White House for his second term. The Meta CEO, along with a few billionaire Republican donors, will be hosting the black-tie event on Monday (Jan 20) before the inaugural balls, reported The Associated Press, citing anonymous sources familiar with the private plans. Also read | Meta apologises over Zuckerberg's remark on 2024 elections; 'inadvertent error' The other cohosts include Miriam Adelson, the Dallas Mavericks owner and widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and Tilman Fertitta, Trump’s pick to serve as US ambassador to Italy and Houston Rockets owner. Todd Ricketts, the co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and Ricketts’ wife, Sylvie Légère, will also join among the co-hosts. An invite to the event was posted on social media by a journalist and podcaster. Also read | 'Fake findings at 1 am,' Trump slams Jack Smith's report on Jan 6 case “More Zucking up... Zuckerberg to host an inaugural ball reception for Trump and Vance with Miriam Adelson, Todd Ricketts and Tilman Fertitta,” she wrote in the post along with sharing the image of the invite. NEW: More Zucking up... Zuckerberg to host an inaugural ball reception for Trump and Vance with Miriam Adelson, Todd Ricketts and Tilman Fertitta pic.twitter.com/yfpL617NO1 — Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) January 14, 2025 Social media reacts to invite Social media users were quick to notice that the name of Zuckerberg’s wife, Priscilla Chan, was not mentioned anywhere in the invite. People in the comments section highlighted this fact saying “Notice it does not say Priscilla Chan,” and “His wife's name is missing.” Also read | Zuckerberg's latest move: Meta order for removal of tampons from men's bathrooms sparks backlash Another user wrote, “His wife’s name isn’t on the invite. Interesting.” While other users perceive the move as Zuckerberg’s attempt to become a close ally with the incoming US president. “Mark doesn’t want to go to prison for the rest of his life. He’s going to do exactly what he’s told to do, when he’s told to do it,” a user wrote. Zuckerberg and Trump Zuckerberg was once seen as a foe of the former president for banning him from Instagram and Facebook after the US Capitol attack on Jan 6, 2021. However, the CEO has been aligning himself with Trump, in an attempt to improve their relationship. Also read | Zuckerberg claims Biden officials would 'scream' to enforce Covid 'censorship' on Facebook Zuckerberg dined with the Republican at his iconic Mar-a-Lago club in Florida following his win in the November elections last year. His company Meta also donated $1 million as an inauguration fund to Trump. Last week, Zuckerberg announced a policy overhaul across Facebook and Instagram, removing third-party fact-checking on the social media platforms to promote free speech. Trump claimed that the move was “probably” a response to the threats made by him against the tech mogul. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to co-host reception for Trump’s inauguration

Meta India on Wednesday (Jan 15) issued an apology over CEO Mark Zuckerberg's remark on the 2024 Indian general elections, where he claimed that the incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost polls last year.
Calling the remark an 'inadvertent error', Meta India's vice-president (public policy) Shivanand Thukral released a statement, responding to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's post on X.
"Dear Honourable Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mark's observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India. We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for Meta and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future," Thukral said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5xnmti8-t4suhria-t1s3d05z">
Dear Honourable Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/AshwiniVaishnaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AshwiniVaishnaw</a> , Mark's observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India. We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country&hellip;
&mdash; Shivnath Thukral (@shivithukral) <a href="https://twitter.com/shivithukral/status/1879226796941750731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
This comes after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said he would send summons to Meta and would also call upon the tech company to apologise to India&rsquo;s Parliament.
&ldquo;My committee will call Meta for this wrong information," Dubey wrote.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5xnonxd-qg0tu2qe-4opzhvoz">
मेरी कमिटि इस ग़लत जानकारी के लिए <a href="https://twitter.com/Meta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Meta</a> को बुलाएगी । किसी भी लोकतांत्रिक देश की ग़लत जानकारी देश की छवि को धूमिल करती है । इस गलती के लिए भारतीय संसद से तथा यहाँ की जनता से उस संस्था को माफ़ी माँगनी पड़ेगी <a href="https://t.co/HulRl1LF4z">https://t.co/HulRl1LF4z</a>
&mdash; Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) <a href="https://twitter.com/nishikant_dubey/status/1879070170486026564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;Wrong information in any democratic country tarnishes the image of the country. That organization will have to apologize to the Indian Parliament and the people here for this mistake," the MP added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-parliamentary-committee-to-summon-meta-over-zuckerbergs-factually-incorrect-claim-about-2024-election-results-8620807">Also read: India to summon Meta over Zuckerberg's 'factually incorrect' claim about 2024 election results</a>
<h2>What did Zuckerberg say?</h2>
Zuckerberg had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that the incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024.&nbsp;
The tech mogul said: "2024 was a big election year around the world. All these countries, like India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon &ndash; whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments dealt with Covid - seems to have had this global effect...There was a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and may be in these sorts of democratic institutions overall."
In reality, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won India&rsquo;s 2024 general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a historic third consecutive term in office. However, Zuckerberg seemed to suggest during the podcast that this was not the case.
<h2>India's minister calls out Zuckerberg&nbsp;</h2>
In response, Vaishnaw said, "As the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg&rsquo;s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5xno1dr-ukycx31m-8vy663wf">
As the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People of India reaffirmed their trust in NDA led by PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Ji&rsquo;s leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg&rsquo;s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in 2024 elections,&hellip;
&mdash; Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/AshwiniVaishnaw/status/1878773353726759106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
"From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi&rsquo;s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust. @Meta, it&rsquo;s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let&rsquo;s uphold facts and credibility," Vaishnaw wrote on X.
(With inputs from agencies)

Meta India on Wednesday (Jan 15) issued an apology over CEO Mark Zuckerberg's remark that the incumbent government in India lost power in the 2024 elections. 

Meta India on Wednesday (Jan 15) issued an apology over CEO Mark Zuckerberg's remark on the 2024 Indian general elections, where he claimed that the incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost polls last year. Calling the remark an 'inadvertent error', Meta India's vice-president (public policy) Shivanand Thukral released a statement, responding to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's post on X. "Dear Honourable Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mark's observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India. We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for Meta and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future," Thukral said. Dear Honourable Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw , Mark's observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India. We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country… — Shivnath Thukral (@shivithukral) January 14, 2025 This comes after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said he would send summons to Meta and would also call upon the tech company to apologise to India’s Parliament. “My committee will call Meta for this wrong information," Dubey wrote. मेरी कमिटि इस ग़लत जानकारी के लिए @Meta को बुलाएगी । किसी भी लोकतांत्रिक देश की ग़लत जानकारी देश की छवि को धूमिल करती है । इस गलती के लिए भारतीय संसद से तथा यहाँ की जनता से उस संस्था को माफ़ी माँगनी पड़ेगी https://t.co/HulRl1LF4z — Dr Nishikant Dubey (@nishikant_dubey) January 14, 2025 “Wrong information in any democratic country tarnishes the image of the country. That organization will have to apologize to the Indian Parliament and the people here for this mistake," the MP added. Also read: India to summon Meta over Zuckerberg's 'factually incorrect' claim about 2024 election results What did Zuckerberg say? Zuckerberg had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that the incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The tech mogul said: "2024 was a big election year around the world. All these countries, like India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon – whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments dealt with Covid - seems to have had this global effect...There was a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and may be in these sorts of democratic institutions overall." In reality, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won India’s 2024 general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a historic third consecutive term in office. However, Zuckerberg seemed to suggest during the podcast that this was not the case. India's minister calls out Zuckerberg In response, Vaishnaw said, "As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect." As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People of India reaffirmed their trust in NDA led by PM @narendramodi Ji’s leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in 2024 elections,… — Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 13, 2025 "From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust. @Meta, it’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility," Vaishnaw wrote on X. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta apologises over Zuckerberg's remark on 2024 India elections; 'inadvertent error'

Union Minister Vaishnaw refutes Mark Zuckerberg's "false claim" that India's 2024 election results were due to COVID-19 handling. Watch this report for more details!

Indian Union Minister Vaishnaw calls out Zuckerberg over his Poll Remarks

India's Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday (Jan 13) called out Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for making an inaccurate claim about India&rsquo;s 2024 elections. 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/meta-ceo-zuckerberg-says-cia-can-access-your-whatsapp-messages">Zuckerberg</a> had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The minister called the comments "disappointing" and accused the tech billionaire of spreading misinformation.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-polls-bjp-aap-intensify-poster-video-war-ahead-of-elections-8619072">Delhi polls: BJP, AAP intensify poster-video war ahead of elections</a>
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won India&rsquo;s 2024 general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a third consecutive term in office. However, Zuckerberg said during the podcast that this was not the case. 
Zuckerberg said, "2024 was a big election year around the world. All these countries, like India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon &ndash; whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments dealt with Covid - seems to have had this global effect...There was a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and maybe in these sorts of democratic institutions overall."
<h2>'Factually incorrect'</h2>
In response, Vaishnaw said, "As the world&rsquo;s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg&rsquo;s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-of-68-magnitude-strikes-japan-tsunami-advisory-issued-8618910">Earthquake of 6.8 magnitude strikes Japan, tsunami advisory issued</a>
"From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi&rsquo;s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust. @Meta, it&rsquo;s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let&rsquo;s uphold facts and credibility," Vaishnaw wrote on X.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-every-violent-or-sexual-offence-in-england-wales-went-unsolved-in-2024-report-8618637">Amid grooming gangs menace in UK, report says almost every violent or sexual offence went unsolved in 2024</a>
This is not the only reason why Meta CEO Zuckerberg is making headlines. Last week, Zuckerberg announced that Meta will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech. The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X. This decision has sparked widespread backlash, with countries like Australia and Brazil labeling it a threat to democracy and mental health.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: Zuckerberg had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The minister called the comments "disappointing".

India's Minister for Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday (Jan 13) called out Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for making an inaccurate claim about India’s 2024 elections. Zuckerberg had said in a podcast with Joe Rogan that incumbent governments in all countries, including India, lost elections in 2024. The minister called the comments "disappointing" and accused the tech billionaire of spreading misinformation. Also read: Delhi polls: BJP, AAP intensify poster-video war ahead of elections The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won India’s 2024 general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi securing a third consecutive term in office. However, Zuckerberg said during the podcast that this was not the case. Zuckerberg said, "2024 was a big election year around the world. All these countries, like India, had elections. The incumbents basically lost every single one. There is some sort of a global phenomenon – whether it was because of inflation or the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments dealt with Covid - seems to have had this global effect...There was a broad decrease in trust in incumbents and maybe in these sorts of democratic institutions overall." 'Factually incorrect' In response, Vaishnaw said, "As the world’s largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. The people of India reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by PM Narendra Modi's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg’s claim that most incumbent governments, including India in the 2024 elections, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect." Also read: Earthquake of 6.8 magnitude strikes Japan, tsunami advisory issued "From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastest-growing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust. @Meta, it’s disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility," Vaishnaw wrote on X. Also read: Amid grooming gangs menace in UK, report says almost every violent or sexual offence went unsolved in 2024 This is not the only reason why Meta CEO Zuckerberg is making headlines. Last week, Zuckerberg announced that Meta will be making some changes to the moderation policies and practices, citing its aim to embrace free speech. The company will be altering the way posts, videos, and other content are moderated online. It will be getting rid of fact-checkers and will replace them with user-generated "Community notes", which is similar to Elon Musk's X. This decision has sparked widespread backlash, with countries like Australia and Brazil labeling it a threat to democracy and mental health. (With inputs from agencies)

'Factually incorrect,' Indian minister calls out Zuckerberg over false claim about 2024 election results

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