How does Musk and Zuckerberg stack up to Americans today?

1. 75

   tsmogposted 4 months ago

   How Americans view Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg by Pew Research (Feb 19, 2025)
   https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads … uckerberg/
   
   "Americans’ views of two prominent tech executives – Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg – tilt more negative than positive. Musk is a deeply polarizing figure, with Republicans largely viewing him favorably and Democrats largely unfavorably. By contrast, views of Zuckerberg are less polarized, with majorities in both parties viewing him unfavorably."
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   A little bit more considering age arrives . . .
   
   "Views of Musk, Zuckerberg by age
   
   The public’s views of Musk and Zuckerberg also modestly vary by age, with younger adults somewhat more negative of both.
   
   67% of adults under 30 hold an unfavorable view of Musk, compared with about half of those ages 30 to 49 (53%) and those 50 and older (49%).
   
   Seven-in-ten adults under 30 and 72% of those ages 30 to 49 have an unfavorable opinion of Zuckerberg. This compares with 62% of those 50 and older.
   
   Age differences are particularly pronounced among Republicans when it comes to views of Musk. About half (47%) of Republicans under 30 express an unfavorable view of Musk. By comparison, 23% of those ages 30 to 49 and even fewer of those 50 and older (16%) see him negatively. For Democrats, favorability of Musk does not differ across these three age groups.
   
   Do you have a favorable view of Musk relative to the tech world?
   
   Do you have a favorable view of Zuckerberger relative to the tech world?
   
   Does politics change your perspective of one or the other or both?
   
   Does the tech world hold too much sway over society?
   
   Why do you suppose Zuckerberg is seen as unfavorable by both parties?
   
   Thoughts, criticisms, accolades, and/or commentary?

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      wildernessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      Considering America's decades long demonization of the "rich" (anyone with more money than I have), it is surprising the numbers are as high as they are.
      
      Given that not one person in 1,000 actually knows anything about either man, outside of media and social media platitudes, it is at least a little surprising that they are willing to answer the question at all.

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   2. 83

      Sharlee01posted 4 months agoin reply to this

      I have a highly favorable view of both Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg when it comes to their contributions to the tech world. Musk has revolutionized multiple industries, from electric vehicles with Tesla to space exploration with SpaceX, not to mention his work in AI, neural technology, and clean energy. His ability to push boundaries, take risks, and execute bold ideas has made him one of the most transformative figures of our time.
      
      Similarly, Zuckerberg's impact through Meta (formerly Facebook) has reshaped global communication, bringing people together in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. His innovations in social media, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence continue to shape the digital landscape and keep Meta at the forefront of technology. Where would we be without innovative individuals like them? Visionaries like Musk and Zuckerberg drive progress, pushing humanity forward in ways that benefit us all.
      
      Politics doesn’t change my perspective on either of them. Both have been scrutinized for their personal beliefs and business decisions, but their achievements in technology and business innovation stand on their own. Musk’s willingness to challenge conventional norms, whether in space travel, AI, or free speech on social media, often places him at the center of political debates. Likewise, Zuckerberg’s role in social media governance and election-related policies has made him a figure of political controversy. However, their contributions to technology, industry, and society far outweigh any political disagreements that might surround them.
      
      The tech world does hold significant sway over society, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Innovation drives progress, and figures like Musk and Zuckerberg have played pivotal roles in shaping the modern world. Technology influences how we work, communicate, travel, and even think about the future. While there are concerns about corporate influence, privacy, and the concentration of power, the benefits of technological advancement are undeniable. The key is ensuring that this influence is balanced with accountability and responsible innovation.
      
      Zuckerberg is often seen as unfavorable by both political parties because of the immense power Facebook and Meta wield over information and discourse. Both sides have criticized the platform—conservatives for alleged censorship and liberals for not doing enough to moderate content. Despite this, his impact on technology and global communication is undeniable, and he continues to evolve his company to meet the demands of an ever-changing digital world.
      
      Yes, these men are worthy of being envied, and that fact really gets under some people's skin. There will always be those who resent success rather than celebrate it—people who would rather tear down great minds than acknowledge their contributions. These are the type who might still be satisfied with lighting a candle instead of embracing progress. But history remembers the innovators, not the naysayers. Musk and Zuckerberg are shaping the future, and whether one agrees with them personally or not, their impact is undeniable

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   Willowarborposted 4 months ago

   Zuck is extremely difficult to watch. He has been trying to suck up to Trump, going on Joe Rogan’s show to say society has been “neutered” and companies need “more masculine energy”.
   
   Putting on what is clearly a bro disguise to join the boys’ club and sit at the big boy table..it should feel humiliating. His rolling  back hate speech and factchecking rules at Meta, was a clear swerve to the right before Trump’s inauguration. What could be more masculine and cool than selling out vulnerable communities and women to impress the alpha male?   Musk and Zuck are, as the kids would put it..."cringe'

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3. 72

   Ken Burgessposted 4 months ago

   The Media... especially those that rely on government handouts for their continued existence... like Politico... are going to trash everything they do.
   
   The damage is ALREADY done... the damage done in the previous 4 years... the tens of trillions stolen out of the system... the tens of thousands of people hired in the last months for federal government positions... the millions of migrants let in, we are only beginning to feel the pain of all that now... yes we had 25% inflation and because of what they did we will probably have to make severe cuts in government spending if we don't want the whole system to collapse.
   
   As for crime... this is Biden/Dems not Trump... Trump has to spend the next 4 years trying to clean up the disaster:
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQq7-L_sxmk
   
   I consider the Democrats today to be the FU Party... FU to America... FU to American Citizens... FU to Reality (IE - Men are Men, Women are Women)... with exceptions to those over the age of 65 who quite often are not aware of the changes in the Party or the overreach of the Federal Government.

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      wildernessposted 4 months agoin reply to this

      I had no idea Biden was forcing the hiring of people.  But I have a friend in the federal govt, near the top of his agency - discussing the firings, he told me his agency was forced to hire 500 new employees last year.  When they didn't have room or work for them and stopped at 200 the top people were threatened with being fired for not hiring the full 500, with the end result we had 500 new employees with pretty much nothing to do.
      
      Then Biden passed down orders to put up thousands of signs touting his expenditures for the infrastructure, whether anything was done or not.  That WAS done, to the tune of over a million dollars - and now the signs are coming down at another big cost.  At least we don't have to re-purchase Biden's personnel hurrahs for wasting money.
      
      And we wonder where out money goes, and just what Musk & company are doing out there.  Well, I have wondered as well, and wondered just how smart it was, but with things like this happening I have about swung back to Trump's side - if these are the people he is firing, more power to him.

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