Maroc - POPDIARIES.COM - A La Une - 22/Aug 14:09

Mark Zuckerberg’s Most Brilliant PR Transformation!

MARK ZUCKERBERG Despite being the CEOs of rival social media giants, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are also engaged in a battle on another front: their public image. Once celebrated as a visionary and tech genius, Elon Musk has become a polarizing figure. His use of his platform, X, to promote his right-wing views, along with transphobic tweets, mass layoffs, legal battles, and various other controversies, has pushed the "eccentric billionaire" label to uncomfortable extremes. In contrast, Mark Zuckerberg, who started off at a disadvantage in this image race, has managed to pull off an impressive PR transformation over the past few years. Once seen as a "scrawny hacker," Zuckerberg has rebranded himself as a dynamic CEO. Fernando Cao Zheng, co-founder of the brand-building firm Thoughtleadr, highlighted Zuckerberg’s transformation as an example of exceptional PR strategy. In a post on X, Zheng outlined how the Meta CEO underwent one of the most remarkable image rehabilitations in recent memory. "In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg was one of the most disliked CEOs on the planet," Zheng began. "Six years later, he’s surfing in tuxedos, wearing chains, and sparring with Lex Fridman. Everyone seems to love him."  Zheng offered a brief summary of Zuckerberg’s rise and fall. After launching Facebook from his Harvard dorm room, Zuckerberg quickly became a prominent figure in Silicon Valley. However, his reputation as a bold leader was tarnished by numerous controversies, including data breaches, privacy concerns, the 2016 Russian election interference scandal, the Cambridge Analytica debacle, and his robotic appearance during Congressional hearings. Yet, Zuckerberg has managed to make a strong comeback. According to Zheng, much of the credit for this PR revival goes to Zuckerberg’s decision to fully embrace his billionaire status. "He’s no longer pretending to be just a regular guy. He’s owning his wealth," Zheng noted. Recently, Zuckerberg has been seen wakeboarding in a tuxedo, collecting designer chains, and training with MMA fighters. He even commissioned a 7-foot statue of his wife, Priscilla Chan, from renowned sculptor Daniel Arsham. While these actions might not be relatable to the average person, they have resonated with a common sentiment on social media: "If we had billions, we’d spend them the same way." In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg was one of the most hated CEOs on the planet.6 years later, he wears chains, surfs in tuxedos and fights Lex Fridman.Everyone seems to love him.It's the most brilliant PR transformation of the century and everyone needs to understand why it worked:… pic.twitter.com/xFXTBsSRPB — Fernando Cao Zheng (@thefernandocz) August 20, 2024 The image overhaul also included a wardrobe update. As Zheng pointed out, Zuckerberg swapped his “drab tees and hoodies” for “Capri cabana shirts and Yeezy-like sweatshirts.” The 40-year-old tech mogul also let his hair grow into “Gen-Z curls” and began engaging with designers in Instagram comments. Starting out as a “scrawny, awkward hacker” from his college dorm, Zuckerberg is now a fit CEO who spars with Lex Fridman and wears chains. This transformation has earned him significant praise online. While Elon Musk is busy stirring up culture wars on X, Zuckerberg is projecting a "whatever bro, I’m just doing my thing" attitude. By embracing his quirky billionaire lifestyle instead of hiding it, Zuckerberg has actually become more relatable. Now, he’s simply spending time with his family and enjoying his wealth in a way that many people find appealing.  In essence, Zuckerberg has emerged as the clear victor in this PR battle by being himself—or as close to normal as a billionaire can get. Zheng called it "the most brilliant PR transformation of the century."