Zuckerberg Praises ‘Masculine Energy,’ Meta Axes DEI Initiatives in Corporate Shake-Up!

As Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, aligns with the shifting political climate under the expected leadership of Republican President-elect Donald Trump, he has not only terminated Meta’s fact-checking program but also ended its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Moreover, Zuckerberg has openly praised what he calls “masculine energy” in the corporate sector of the United States.

“Much of the corporate world seems culturally neutral to an extreme,” Zuckerberg remarked during his appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. Meta, the umbrella company for social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is steering in a new direction under his leadership.

Zuckerberg, who grew up with “three sisters, no brothers” and now is a father to “three daughters, no sons,” shared his personal context of being constantly surrounded by females. “There’s something about masculine energy that I find valuable,” he noted.

He further expressed concern that corporate culture might be distancing itself from masculine traits. “I believe all types of energy are beneficial, and embracing a bit more aggression could bring positive results,” he added.

Zuckerberg went on to clarify:

Being a woman in a company might feel overwhelmingly masculine. That’s not ideal because you want women to succeed as well. However, I think attempts to be inclusive can sometimes be excessive. It’s one thing to strive for a welcoming environment for everyone, but it’s another to demonize masculinity. We seem to be at a cultural point where any sign of masculinity is considered toxic, which I believe is an overcorrection. Martial arts, which I’ve been involved with, still celebrates a more traditional masculine culture.

Observers on social media have linked Zuckerberg’s new stance to the broader rightward shift in corporate America, coinciding with Trump’s return to the White House and a Republican-led Congress.

Especially notable is the growing trend among major corporations, including McDonald’s, Walmart, and Amazon, to scale back or eliminate their DEI programs. An internal memo from Meta’s vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale, revealed that the company is immediately halting DEI efforts in hiring and training due to the evolving legal and political landscape regarding these initiatives in the U.S.

Gale explained that the term “DEI” has become contentious, interpreted by some as favoring certain groups over others.

This shift follows Meta’s decision to conclude its third-party fact-checking program, criticized for political bias, and its plan to relocate its content policy and review teams from California to Texas and other U.S. locations. Meta is adopting a new “free expression” policy, which controversially allows statements that many consider hateful.

Furthermore, The Intercept and other outlets reported that Meta has instructed its offices to remove amenities like tampons previously available to transgender and nonbinary employees in men’s restrooms and to eliminate transgender and nonbinary themes from its Messenger app.

Zuckerberg has also welcomed UFC CEO Dana White, a known Trump supporter, to Meta’s board of directors, citing his entrepreneurial spirit and brand-building expertise. This follows a significant meeting between Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago and a substantial donation to Trump’s inauguration committee.

Recently, Zuckerberg has also criticized the outgoing Democratic administration, recounting hostile interactions with Biden’s team over COVID-19 misinformation.

While some internet users have mocked Meta’s new direction, organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have expressed serious concerns, stating that Meta appears more interested in appeasing the incoming administration than in genuinely supporting free expression. The EFF highlighted that a company with Meta’s history of biased moderation needs a more considered and genuine approach to these issues.