Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is making waves with its recent strategic shifts aimed at currying favor with former President Donald Trump. This move, while appearing beneficial in some aspects, has left many of its employees unsettled. According to sources familiar with the matter, Meta has been censoring internal criticism, triggering concerns about the company's evolving policy direction. On February 6, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, visited the White House to discuss potential collaborations in advancing American technological leadership globally.
In an attempt to align with the Trump administration, Meta has taken significant steps that appear to be yielding favorable feedback from Trump himself. Publicly, the former president has acknowledged Meta's efforts, stating, "Honestly, I think they've come a long way. Meta, Facebook, I think they've come a long way."
Amidst these political maneuvers, Meta's internal environment faces turbulence. The company has been accused of censoring criticism within its Workplace in-house social network. Such actions have raised eyebrows among employees, particularly following Meta's decision to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion program and relax content-moderation guidelines.
The company's workforce has also been significantly affected by strategic changes. Over 21,000 jobs have been cut in 2022 and 2023, representing nearly a quarter of Meta's workforce. Despite these cuts, the company's financial health shows signs of recovery. Shares have seen a massive upswing since a challenging 2022, quadrupling over the past two years and closing at a record $728.56 on Thursday.
Meta's business growth is largely attributed to its investments in artificial intelligence (AI). These investments have provided new capabilities to advertisers, helping the company recover from previous setbacks following iOS changes. The focus on AI aligns with interests shared by Elon Musk and his startup xAI. Meta continues to compete with Musk's X and remains committed to expanding its AI capabilities.
In late January, Meta filed a complaint against Apple with Brazil's competition regulator, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense. This move reflects Meta's ongoing tension with Apple over what Zuckerberg described as restrictive business practices. He commented on Apple's approach:
"They build stuff like Air Pods, which are cool, but they've just thoroughly hamstrung the ability for anyone else to build something that can connect to the iPhone in the same way" – Mark Zuckerberg
Meta's advertising revenue also paints an optimistic picture. For 2024, the company reported $160.6 billion in advertising revenue, marking an impressive nearly 40% increase from 2021. These financial gains underscore Meta's recovery from the downturn it faced in recent years.
On the regulatory front, Joel Kaplan has assumed the role of Meta's top policy position, succeeding Nick Clegg. Kaplan brings experience from his tenure as a former White House deputy chief of staff under President George W. Bush. Trump has expressed his approval of Kaplan, stating:
"The man was very impressive" – Donald Trump
Despite these strides, Meta remains vigilant about maintaining its brand reputation and user base. A statement from the company highlights their awareness of potential vulnerabilities:
"If we are not able to maintain and enhance our brands, our ability to maintain or expand our base of users, marketers, and developers may be impaired, and our business and financial results may be harmed" – Meta
Furthermore, Meta recently agreed to pay $25 million as part of a settlement with Trump regarding the company's decision to suspend his accounts following the Capitol riot. This settlement exemplifies Meta's strategic efforts to mend relations with Trump and navigate politically sensitive waters.