For argument’s sake, let’s stipulate that Mark Zuckerberg is not evil.
Let us also assume that, though his earliest iteration of Facebook was a means to rate Harvard women on their appearance, Zuckerberg actually believed Facebook would bring people together for positive exchanges of ideas and life experiences.
Let’s even say that the Meta CEO honestly thinks AI-powered glasses, his newest product, are the coolest thing since the iPhone.
If so, then Zuckerberg, the alleged genius, knows nothing about the dark side of human nature.
Vast swaths of social media have become an antisocial cesspool where con artists and perverts roam, where racists, misogynists and political extremists have gained a big megaphone, and where shaming, doxing and harassment are a favorite sport.
And, unsurprisingly, the first thing some people have chosen to do with their new Meta AI glasses is to ambush young women to create embarrassing YouTube videos without their consent.
Facebook was the gateway drug to all of this.
Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s other platforms were intentionally designed to hook users through algorithms that invade their brains and keep them scrolling for hours at a time. This addictive design was found to have caused harm to children in a case brought in New Mexico where Meta was ordered to pay a $942 million penalty.
Meta has now been hit with a far bigger penalty in a lawsuit brought by 29 state attorneys general who sought to punish Meta for flagrantly disregarding the health and safety of teenagers. Numerous ex-Meta employees were ready to testify that the company was eager to turn teens into screen addicts, which may be why Zuckerberg chose to settle the case and pay a whopping $18 billion fine. (Washington state will receive $237 million in a landmark legal settlement.)
“For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health,” Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement announcing the deal with Meta. The settlement “will put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief that will protect children from online harm.”
After years of Zuckerberg pleading that his intentions were virtuous, it is now easier than ever to believe that, from the time he dreamed up the idea for Facebook as a college student, Zuckerberg’s primary motivation was to make a mountain of money, and anything that got in the way of that goal was cast aside — including safeguards for the minds and emotional health of young people.
Yes, Zuckerberg may not be evil, but someone should have reminded him that money is the root of all evil.
See more of David Horsey’s cartoons at: st.news/davidhorsey
View other syndicated cartoonists at: st.news/cartoons
Editor’s note: Seattle Times Opinion no longer appends comment threads on David Horsey’s cartoons. Too many comments violated our community policies and reviewing the dozens that were flagged as inappropriate required too much of our limited staff time. You can comment via a Letter to the Editor. Please email us at letters@seattletimes.com and include your full name, address and telephone number for verification only. Letters are limited to 200 words.
