Portrait of Elon Musk
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Elon Musk on Mark Zuckerberg

Feuding Tech Rival (strong)

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have been involved in a public feud that escalated dramatically following the launch of Meta's social media platform, Threads, as a competitor to Musk's X (formerly Twitter) in July 2023.

The rivalry has included personal antagonism, such as Musk challenging Zuckerberg to a cage match, which Zuckerberg accepted, although the event never materialized.

Despite the ongoing personal conflict, Musk has publicly praised Zuckerberg when Meta shifts policies toward Musk's vision, such as ending the US fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram in favor of a 'Community Notes' model similar to X's.

Context

The relationship between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg is significant due to their status as leaders of competing social media ecosystems, X and Meta (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads).

This competition extends beyond social media, as their companies operate in overlapping tech sectors, including the potential for AI competition and clashes over content moderation philosophies.

Musk's commentary on Zuckerberg often serves to draw attention to the perceived advantages or philosophical alignments of Musk's platforms over Meta's.

Timeline

  1. The feud between the two tech moguls goes back to at least 2016.
  2. The feud intensified with the launch of Meta's Threads, a text-based platform positioned as a rival to Twitter.
  3. Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, which Zuckerberg accepted.
  4. More than a year after the initial challenge, Musk stated he was again open to fighting Zuckerberg on his rival's terms.
  5. Musk described Zuckerberg's decision to end US fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram as "cool."

Actions Taken

  1. Personal Challenge
    Challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a cage match.
  2. Social Media Post
    Responded to Wendy's suggestion that Zuckerberg should 'go to space just to really make him mad' with a tweet that gained significant visibility.
  3. Public Endorsement
    Publicly supported Zuckerberg's move to end US fact-checking on Meta platforms.

What Others Say

Mark Zuckerberg

Accepted Elon Musk's challenge to a cage match and later stated a goal for Meta platforms to be politically 'neutral'.

Comparison

  • Content Moderation: Musk applauded Zuckerberg's decision to end traditional fact-checking, viewing it as a positive move towards Musk's preferred model of 'Community Notes' and less governmental influence.
  • Competition: The relationship is marked by direct commercial rivalry, exemplified by the launch of Threads against X, leading to accusations of improper hiring practices by Musk.