Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg today responded to a claim by President Donald Trump that the popular social platform is "Anti-Trump."
In a Wednesday tweet, the president said that "Facebook was always anti-Trump." He added that "the networks were always anti-Trump," citing The New York Times and The Washington Post as examples.
The president further implied that whatever these networks put out are "fake news."
Zuckerberg says Facebook is a product of everyone's ideas
In a public response posted on his official Facebook page, Mark Zuckerberg defended the social media platform.
He basically argued that the platform is open for everyone. Being that it is a place where everyone can express their individual ideas, there will always be biases. But the biases lie within the individuals using Facebook, not Facebook itself.
Furthermore, the Facebook founder presented ways in which the social media platform has helped voters in a greater way. He claimed that the greatest role Facebook played in the 2016 election was "different from what most are saying."
Zuckerberg further implied that the internet opened and entirely new avenue of communication for the candidates. For each person running for a position, there was a Facebook page promoting their campaign. Perhaps the candidates got wind of the fact that a Facebook page is the easiest way to connect to millions of voters, and they used this power to the full extent.
A greater effect on the 2016 elections
He cites that in the 2016 election, people discussed issues more than ever. Because of Facebook, users have discussed every aspect of the election and not just what the media covered. There were interactions that never could have taken place offline, demonstrating how useful it is to have a direct connection with every person wanting to interact.
The mere act of commenting initiated discussion that can be participated in by millions; such was the power Facebook gave.
Zuckerberg also said that the social media website played a major role in encouraging people to vote. Their campaign to "get out the vote" helped as many as 2 million people register as voters in the 2016 elections.
He claims that this is "bigger than the get out the vote efforts of the Trump and Clinton campaigns put together."
Indeed, Zuckerberg believes firmly that Facebook has helped the democratic system more than harm it. His response to President Donald Trump's claim is that Facebook itself was not anti-Trump. Whatever anti-Trump material may have sprung from the website was made by individual users.
