The Zuckerburg God Complex: We Sympathize But We Will Never Empathize!!!

This article is dedicated to the sole purpose of demonstrating pure empathy for Zuckerberg and genuine care for the Facebook community in efforts to try to correct the numerous mistakes that are being made in the name of social networking!

Ranging from Facebook’s thrive to make more money using the Facebook beacon and moving on to the “automated stalking” news feeds and ending with the biggest joke of all: Facebook’s forced redesigns, Marc Zuckerberg seems to be proving, day after day, the fact that he suffers from what psychologists call “The God Complex”.

As defined by the Urban Dictionary: “The God complex (funny video) is a psychosis based in uncontrolled narcissism, inflated arrogance and a perceived need to subjugate and/or ridicule other individuals deemed to be inferior or unworthy. Some believe that “God complexes” are particularly common in arrogant, highly educated, worldly, or powerful people.”

In one of my previous graduate marketing courses discussing “Marketing Mistakes and Successes”, it was evident that the 3 C’s: Conceit, Complacency and Conservatism were and are still the main three reasons why great corporations might be drawn towards failure. Looking at Zuckerberg’s approach to changing and continuously making additions and new platforms introductions, we can safely say that he is as far away as possible from complacency and conservatism. But what about conceit? Is conceit taking over the way things work at Facebook?

Since conceit is directly related to The God Complex I have defined earlier, it seems that Zuckerberg is drowning in shallow waters!

Disregarding the fact that 94% of Facebook users “hate” the new Facebook redesign and the fact many articles were written and Facebook groups were created to attack what I’d like to call the “God-like position” Zuckerberg upholds by doing as he pleases and even more severely disregarding user’s needs and arguments repetitively, and finally exploiting users’ data for personal gains and adding options that only compromise privacy, all seem to point towards one direction: Zuckerburg’s pure and unarguable obsession with power!

Zuckerberg: We feel with you, we really do, but honestly we are not ready to surrender to your will, not yet at least! I believe that most bloggers know exactly what they are talking about when they say: “The Facebook’s new design sucks” and “It is time you listen to your users!”. I’d like to think that I have read enough articles and case studies that can show you the way to “social networking redemption”! With a little effort, you can easily do what large social networking sites such as Google, Yahoo and others have done by utilzing Beta development to gain better insights about whatever changes you are planning to introduce in order to give your “smart” users more options and breathing room!

I just want what is best for us, the people who count: the users who have made your success possible! And since your profile indicates that you’re a Harvard graduated and we all know that you are currently Facebook’s CEO, which in turn gives you power, I believe that you fit the profile of a person suffering the God Complex! Thus, since part of finding a solution is realizing the problem, I just thought I should pinpoint you to the right direction

Wishing you a speedy healing and a hearty come back!

Comments and Reactions

  • It was great talking to you, too :). Hope to see more comments from you around our blog.
  • Anonymous T
    Okay :)
    Will check your posts.

    Nice chatting with you bro.

    Cheers.
  • Even if you exclude the crisis, large corporations, even if not run by a 24 year old like the Facebook, have made mistakes. Even Google has a policy for terminating failed projects. All I am trying to say is that big corporations are still run by humans. They have a lot of numbers and statistics, but a person takes the decision at the end of the day.


    I am still a member of Facebook, but it's due to the fact that it offers a great service, and my friends are all already on Facebook. We never said that Facebook's service is not appreciated; we just said that we want to be heard, and given options. Read my fresh post titled "Facebook protesters, you've got punked!". I'm proposing that many people, including myself, were tricked into marketing The Facebook's brand. Have a read and comment :).



    Regarding privacy, I was talking in general. But you must have read one of the many articles about how employers would screen for potential employees having profiles with drunk or inappropriate photos. If it wasn't for Facebook, they would've never taken this biased decision. (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Eagles-fire-employee-for-calling-them-retarted-?urn=nfl,146801)



    My fingers hurt, so I'm going to watch a Simpson's episode :)
  • Anonymous T
    Amer, i really don't think that referring to giant corporations going bankrupt because of an unforseen GLOBAL financial crisis (with the only crisis with similar magnitude happening almost a century ago) really relevant to what I am referring to right now...


    Just out of curiosity, are you still a member of Facebook? Oh and a few more questions if you don't mind. How can something you voluntarily do on Facebook lead you to a situation of public embarassment? And how is identity theft not applicable to all other social networks and chatting programs available online? Or are we off topic now and not talking about Facebook in specific?
  • Tamer, I'm not big on endless arguments, but if huge companies really always take bullet proof decisions, we would have never heard of a large chain announcing bankruptcy. The economic crisis should have affected only smaller companies, and not big corporations such as GM.


    Regarding privacy, it is a trust relationship. If a company does not treat your data with respect and provide security accordingly, you can end up facing a small problem like public embarrassment, or bigger ones like identity theft!
  • Anonymous T
    Amer, a huge company such as this one usually makes bullet proof decisions. I definitely agree though that they shoud listen to the community, and maybe change some of their decisions a little, but that should be to a certain extent.


    As for the privacy part, what I'm saying is that this is the way Facebook is. Maybe as a user you'd prefer MySpace where you have more privacy, Bebo, or maybe just limit your interaction to what Twitter offers. But obviously the majority of people can't find what Facebook offers on other social networks and that is why they stick to it anyway. And you can increase your privacy settings, can't you? I actually think you can use an app to get the old interface back too, so I don't really understand why it's such a big deal.
  • Tamer, you seem to be influenced by the size of the company, and the media fuss around the Facebook. A big company, doesn't always mean bullet proof decisions!


    Instead of Facebook, think of a site one of your friends created, a really small site. You and a hundred others use it. If the guy who created it decides to change the entire interface, add rules, or fill the site up with advertising without even consenting with you, you'd feel frustrated. Especially if it becomes a regular thing, being ignored. No one likes change, and no one likes to feel unappreciated.



    At the end of the day, he gave us a service, and WE, the community, made him a billionaire. Shouldn't he respect us back? Listen to us? At least give us the illusion that our opinions matter?
  • Anonymous T
    any why is my name Anonymous T? lol


    Tamer
  • Anonymous T
    Bee,
    First of all, i like the new facebook! Secondly, it's Mark's business isn't it? We're all still on facebook, even after the numerous changes they make. People usually complain right after the changes happen, and they then get used to it and realize that it's actually good. They definitely do the changes based on an analysis of how we use facebook and they must have a very strong team that does that, and that is why it usually sinks in after a while. It's still growing day by day and these changes don't seem to affect the number of users(although I could be wrong here). And do you really think that all this is just Mark alone thinking? And comparing facebook with Twitter... guys there's no room for comparison there, especially with the kind of privacy we sign up and agree on with Facebook and that with something like Twitter, or even MySpace. So what I'm trying to say here is different social networks have different levels of privacy and user interaction, so if people don't like what Facebook is all, then maybe it's not the right social network for them...
  • Dear Fadi...


    I think, maybe, if I was offered a chance to stay on the old Facebook layout and I felt I had the choice and freedom to decide on what suits my needs, I would have been ok with the new design. I think it is human nature to dislike being forced into something, even if it was better in one way or another!



    Mark made a mistake by thinking he has the power to do whatever he wants when he wants it... I think that is mainly why people rebelled!



    I love Yahoo and Gmail! They allow me to choose what I want... They ease me into the changes they make and that makes me feel important to them... I guess that is a factor in human psychology that should not be disregarded.



    Thank you for your comment and for the link you have provided. I will check it out now.



    Kindest regards,



    Beirut
  • Beirut, while I totally agree with you about the necessity of consulting one's user base before such drastic changes. I find myself in favor of the new changes, I am one of those 6% who actually think the facebook is better now than before. I love the live streaming and the new neat interface.


    That doesn't mean that Mark should be off the hook. Such attitude would only bring harm to his empire! Look at twitter, it is gaining market share rapid and all because of its open friendly attitude.



    Check out this interesting article by Razan about this matter: http://razano.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/twitter-its-all-about-attitude/
  • Hello Mr. Z:


    I do agree with you: Power abuse is a strong angle that some seem to take too far and stretch too wide!



    I am more than glad to know that you will be using this idea to strengthen your discussions about the Facebook scam! I also invite you to suggest any other social networking site you would like us to analyze and write about and we will try our best to give you something worth reading :)
  • Z
    Hello,


    Have heard that not a lot of users were happy with the new change in Facebook's interface.. But this article did shed a lot more light on the issue..



    Have always had my problems with Facebook especially when it comes to privacy issues... so now I have to thank you for a new tool in my discussions ;-). Power abuse is quite a strong angle.
  • Hi Kurt!


    I am glad you took the time to read the article I've written and I appreciate your support of the idea I have mentioned to be used as a tool for further improvements.



    I just hope this article would be taken seriously by those who have the power to make decisions since it seems that "they" don't really care about what we think or suggest!
  • Kurt
    facebook utilizing the beta test -- what a breakthrough idea! Here's hoping they'll apply it.
  • Sometimes, the bigger the bubble around you is, the harder it is for you to see below, under or around you... This causes you to feel superior and in a way: invincible, yet it induces negative feelings that could come back to haunt you and burst your big fat bubble! :)
  • Great post Beirut! Facebook must start acknowledging it's users and taking their opinions into consideration!
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