Yeah, I imply, that is no large shock.
As you may see on this chart, based on a brand new survey carried out by Pew Analysis, most Individuals now have less-than-favorable views of each X proprietor Elon Musk and Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg.
As per Pew:
“Simply over half of U.S. adults (54%) say they’ve an unfavorable view of Musk, together with 36% who’ve a very unfavorable opinion of him. About four-in-ten (42%) specific a positive view, together with 11% who’re very favorable, based on a Pew Analysis Middle survey carried out Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2025.”
And Zuck fares even worse total:
“Two-thirds of Individuals have an unfavorable view of Zuckerberg. This consists of 26% who’re very unfavorable towards him. One other quarter view him favorably, together with simply 2% who see him very favorably.”
So Zuck has extra haters basically, however extra individuals who dislike Elon actually don’t like him, which comes on account of his rising political involvement and his publicly acknowledged opinions on… properly, all the things.
Each Musk and Zuckerberg have been the topic of a lot scrutiny, usually self-inflicted, with Musk disowning his daughter, taking authorized motion towards opponents, turning Twitter into his personal private mouthpiece, and supporting controversial politicians.
Zuckerberg in the meantime has seemingly profited off of individuals’s private information, whereas additionally knowingly pushing apps that may be dangerous to teenagers, and shopping for up land in Hawaii, a lot to the chagrin of locals.
Each males are value billions, and each have enormous affect, and as such, a degree of hate is inevitably going to comply with. However the final six months or so have actually helped to solidify the 2 as villains, in their very own distinctive methods.
Is that justified? Effectively, a few of it’s, and once more, when you have got a lot affect and energy, you’ll doubtless need to take some actions which might be going to upset some individuals. However each Musk and Zuckerberg appear to be solely pushed by their ambitions to realize extra energy, and extra market share, seemingly whatever the potential value to others.
As such, there doesn’t seem like a whole lot of concern in regards to the broader impacts of their actions on society, as displayed by their resistance to rules, which they see as simply impeding their progress.
And in some respects, they’re in all probability proper on that entrance too, however these rules and guidelines are usually put in place to guard the broader neighborhood, and we’ve all seen the harms that may come if we enable billionaire businessman to have their method, unfettered.
As such, it’s no shock to see their public approval scores in decline, although I doubt that both of them will care an excessive amount of, as long as they get to maintain pushing their dream visions ahead, and maintain bringing in extra money for his or her respective companies.
Perhaps, ultimately, each will likely be hailed as generational leaders, and genius minds in their very own proper. Or they’ll be scorned for his or her dangerous impacts.
It’s vital that checks and balances do stay in place with a purpose to keep away from the latter, whereas additionally acknowledging that the previous is probably going additionally true, whether or not you prefer it or not.
You may try Pew Analysis’s full analysis overview right here.