Social Media Platforms
It’s no secret that social media platforms have dominated the digital landscape in leaps and bounds over the past few years. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have become part of our lives, with more than 2.7 billion people now active on these sites. These communication tools have brought us closer together and allowed us to express our opinions to the world. But one of the main players in this space, Mark Zuckerberg, has come under fire recently for his perceived fake behavior. So what gives?
Why Does Mark Zuckerberg Look Fake?
Mark Zuckerberg has been the leader of Facebook since 2004, and since then has been the face of the social media giant. He is frequently seen at conferences, giving interviews and even popping up in pop culture. But recently, many people have noticed a shift in how he looks and how he acts, leading some to believe he is no longer behaving authentically.
It could be argued that this shift could be the result of increasingly strict public image guidelines, as well as heightened media scrutiny. As Facebook and all its subsidiaries have grown in size, Mark’s public persona and behavior have been subjected to more and more criticism. This could lead to some of his public interactions becoming more stilted and less genuine.
Works of Art
Another possible explanation for Mark’s public persona could be that his image is now being used as a marketing tool. In recent years, Facebook and its logo have increasingly shown up in pop culture and media, from billboards to the stunning ‘Renoir Comes to Town’ art installation in Paris.
This type of marketing might lead to Mark’s persona being used as a form of art. He has to look perfect in media images and photographs to represent the perfect user experience that Facebook wants to provide, ultimately leading to a false representation of how he actually is.
Personal Choices
Of course, some of this could also be down to Mark’s own personal choices. He might be becoming more conscious of how he is seen in public in light of the more intense scrutiny of his behavior, leading him to act differently. It could also be that Mark is now trying to stay more in line with what the ‘corporate culture’ of social media is deemed to be.
He might be taking steps to fit into the public eye, which could be why many of his interactions have been called into question. He could simply be perceived as being false when in actual fact, he is simply following the customs of the industry.
The Price of Fame
Unfortunately, Mark’s personality change seems to be a common trend for people in the limelight. According to Dr. Chad McQueen, a professional psychologist who specializes in celebrity culture, fame can often encourage us to change our behavior to fit in with what the public approve of.
This could explain why many celebrities who have achieved fame are often seen to be constantly changing their appearance and message. We could argue that this could be happening to Mark as well, as he seeks to live up to a certain standard of behavior and PR.
Personal Vs Professional
This is not to say that Mark isn’t genuine at all. He obviously has a family and a life behind the scenes, away from the public eye. But this ‘fake’ portrayal of him in public could still be the result of conscious decisions on his part in order to stay up to date with the technology industry.
Many successful tech entrepreneurs are now behaving in a certain way publicly due to industry conventions and what is expected of them to remain in the spotlight. We could say that Mark is no different and is simply trying to fit in with the crowd in order to remain successful.
Social Media Cliques
Perhaps it’s also worth noting that there is now a whole ‘social media’ clique and lifestyle, which could be influencing how Mark is seen. This could be the reason why he is increasingly turning up at events and parties with a certain type of people, in order to be accepted within the industry.
It could be that his behavior is being driven not only by what the general public think of him, but also by what his peers in the tech world are expecting of him. This could be why he appears to be different in certain situations, as he is trying to remain part of an elitist and exclusive ‘social media circle’.
Tech Fatigue
Finally, a growing issue in the tech industry is ‘tech fatigue’, which is the state of being overwhelmed and under challenged by technology. This could be what is making Mark turn to a more manufactured persona, as he may be tired of all the criticism and wanting to simply pass for the standards that are accepted in the industry.
It’s possible that he is trying to portray a certain perfection in his public image, in order to deflect from any rumours or criticism that he is facing in the tech industry. He could be trying to distance himself from the negative aspects of technology by presenting himself as someone who is ‘above it all’.
Using Technology For Good
Mark Zuckerberg has also been on the front lines of using technology for good and helping to tackle tough social issues. He has launched initiatives that are aimed at empowering women, helping veterans and solving the affordable housing crisis.
He has also used technology to help spread awareness about certain topics, such as cyberbullying and mental health. He has invested time and money into projects that help bring people together and even recently announced that Facebook would be committing $300 million to news organizations.
Conclusion
It is hard to tell if Mark Zuckerberg is purposely trying to look and act differently in order to conform with tech industry standards, or if he is simply being more conscious of how he is seen in public.
What is certain is that, although his image and persona has shifted over the years, given his work in the tech industry and his commitment to social issues, it is necessary to consider the many people that he is helping and the global impact that his initiatives are having.
