However, this decision drew immediate backlash from media watchdogs and digital safety advocates.
Critics argue that without robust moderation, platforms like Facebook could become breeding grounds for harmful misinformation and extremist content.
Media’s Role in Misinformation
Zuckerberg didn’t shy away from calling out the media itself, suggesting that many mainstream narratives promote a distorted view of users and the spread of information.
“I think in general [people] are able to make good decisions for their lives,” he said. “When they do things that like the media or whatever thinks don’t make sense; it’s generally because the media doesn’t understand their life, not because the people are stupid.”
He continued, “If people are saying something that seems wrong, it’s not usually misinformation, it’s usually that you don’t understand what’s going on in that person’s life… there’s like a certain kind of paternalism in some of the mainstream narratives.”
Autonomy, Tech, and Free Choice
Zuckerberg emphasized that platforms should be evaluated based on their usefulness to users, not the opinions of media gatekeepers.
