The internet gave ordinary people something previous generations rarely had at the same scale, the ability to speak to enormous audiences without first passing through a newspaper, television network, publisher or other traditional gatekeepers.
Mark Zuckerberg built one of the companies at the centre of that transformation. His belief that technology can distribute power rather than concentrate it is captured in one of his most notable observations about giving people a voice.
Quote of the day by Mark Zuckerberg: “When you give everyone a voice and give people power, the system usually ends up in a really good place. So, what we view our role as, is giving people that power.”
The quote reflects an idea that has been central to Zuckerberg's public philosophy for years: technology should not simply connect people, but give individuals greater control over how they communicate, organize and participate in society.
Who is Mark Zuckerberg?
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder, chairman and CEO of Meta, the tech firm created from Facebook. In 2004, Zuckerberg together with other Harvard students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum and Chris Hughes started Facebook as they were still attending Harvard University where the purpose of Facebook was helping people meet and interact with others through the platform.
As time went by and Facebook continued to expand, Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard and relocated to Palo Alto, California. This network of connecting friends which started as a social network for college students has today become one of the most successful technology firms in the world.
Currently, Meta runs several communication and social platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram while heavily investing in other technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual and mixed reality.
In 2015, he established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative along with his wife, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, whom he also shares three daughters with.
What does the quote mean?
The statement “to give everyone a voice” hints at a more decentralized communication process, as opposed to a situation where a handful of organizations will determine what issues should receive attention. The founder of Facebook has constantly associated this concept with the platform’s initial purpose.
Zuckerberg also stated in his speech delivered at Georgetown University in 2019 that giving people a voice and bringing people together have always been some of the most important goals for him and his creations. He claims that through the use of people’s voices, collective social change may happen.
However, he understands that the same systems can be misused when billions of people are connected. In a 2019 ABC News interview, he said that he remains convinced that it could be good to give everyone a voice, while he acknowledges the misuse of these technologies.
More quotes by Mark Zuckerberg
“By giving people the power to share, we're making the world more transparent.”
“The biggest risk is not taking any risk.”
“People don't care about what you say, they care about what you build.”
“The question isn't ‘What do we want to know about people?’ It's ‘What do people want to tell about themselves?’”
“Building a mission and building a business go hand in hand.”
