Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is running out of “culturally neutralized” elements of American companies and embracing “masculine energy” as DEI programs falter .
“I think it's one thing to say we want to create a welcoming and positive environment for all people, but it's another to basically say 'masculinity is bad.' But culturally we don't have that part. I think it was leaning towards' – sort of – a spectrum,” Zuckerberg said in a recent interview with Joe Rogan.
Zuckerberg, who grew up with only sisters and now has only a daughter, told Rogan that he wants women to succeed, but doesn't think masculinity needs to be labeled as “toxic” in order to do so. Ta.
The tech billionaire credits martial arts for his change of heart about masculinity, and said being able to “beat each other up” with his male friends was a “positive experience” for Logan.
“I think having a culture that celebrates aggression a little bit more has its own very positive benefits,” Zuckerberg added.
The release of the Joe Rogan Experience episode came on the same day that Mehta ended its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program.
The company reportedly cited changes in the “legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts” in a memo from Janelle Gale, Meta's vice president of human resources.
“The term 'DEI' has also come under fire, in part because it is understood as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others,” Gale said. wrote in the memo.
Additionally, Mehta's policy review included an order to remove tampons from men's restrooms.
Meta also announced the end of its controversial fact-checking policy, with Zuckerberg saying, “It's time to get back to the roots of free expression on Facebook and Instagram.” Fact checkers will be replaced by “X-like” community notes.
The CEO also acknowledged that despite “good faith” efforts to “address concerns” about misinformation online, there was “too much censorship” and criticized the recent presidential election as “cultural.” He called it a turning point.
He accused fact-checkers of being “too politically biased” and said they “destroyed more trust than they gained.”
The New York Times reports that the tech giant will remove customized transgender and non-binary themes from its Messenger apps and change its “Hateful Duct” policy to allow criticism of gender identity.
This cultural shift from DEI policy isn’t just meta. In the wake of President-elect Trump's decisive victory, major companies are beginning to scale back their diversity programs.
Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman and Eric Revell contributed to this report.
