Mark Zuckerberg Criticizes DEI and Embraces ‘Masculine Energy’ as Meta Overhauls Policies

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is making waves by expressing support for what he calls “masculine energy” in corporate culture, while announcing significant changes to the company’s policies. In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg criticized current corporate culture for being “culturally neutered” and distanced himself from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“A lot of the corporate world is pretty culturally neutered,” Zuckerberg stated, adding that he believed masculine energy had been pushed out of many corporate environments. While he acknowledged the importance of creating a welcoming space for women and marginalized groups, he argued that corporate culture had shifted too far in the other direction, potentially creating an imbalance.

Mark Zuckerberg Criticizes DEI and Embraces ‘Masculine Energy’ as Meta Overhauls Policies

Zuckerberg’s comments come amidst a broader shift in Silicon Valley, with many tech giants reevaluating their diversity policies. On Friday, Meta announced it was discontinuing several DEI programs, noting that the term "DEI" had become “charged” and was seen by some as promoting preferential treatment. This marks a significant pivot from previous corporate practices aimed at increasing diversity within the company.

The internal memo, first reported by Axios, stated that the company was also ending its fact-checking program, citing concerns over political bias. This follows recent adjustments to Meta’s content moderation policies, which now allow for more controversial language, including calling women “household objects” and referring to transgender or nonbinary individuals with derogatory terms like “it.”

Meta’s retreat from DEI initiatives mirrors moves by other major companies such as McDonald’s, Ford, and Walmart, which have recently scaled back similar programs.

Zuckerberg defended his actions, claiming that the changes were not politically motivated, despite occurring around the same time as the 2024 elections. He emphasized that Meta’s direction now aligns more closely with his vision and that he felt more in control of the company’s policies.

The tech billionaire’s statements come amid increasing engagement with the Republican Party and President-elect Donald Trump. Zuckerberg, who previously met with Trump in late 2022 and donated $1 million to his inauguration fund, recently strengthened ties by appointing UFC president Dana White to Meta’s board of directors. This move signals Zuckerberg’s efforts to build stronger connections with Trump allies, despite past tensions between the two, including Trump’s 2020 accusations that Zuckerberg had manipulated Facebook against him.

Zuckerberg also discussed how Biden administration officials had pressured Meta on content moderation policies, particularly regarding COVID-19. His remarks suggest a shift in Meta’s strategy, moving away from policies that had been heavily scrutinized by Democratic leaders.

As Meta moves forward with these changes, it appears Zuckerberg is reshaping the company’s culture to reflect his evolving vision of leadership and corporate values.