Former Meta policy chief Nick Clegg gets to play center stage! He’s on a national tour promoting his new book “How to Save the Internet.” In a revealing interview with The Guardian, Clegg offered a nuanced critique of the Silicon Valley culture, describing it as “cloyingly conformist.” Arthur deftly takes us through his learning process on how to go about distancing himself from his former employer. Yet in equal measure, he lauds his time at Meta.
Clegg, the former head of the U.K.’s Liberal Democrats, largely struck an impressive tone in his first major address on the subject. He elaborated to say the book does not serve as a tell-all or scorched earth indictment of Meta’s leadership. Instead, it serves to directly combat the myths about Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg. Clegg emphasized that he would not have accepted a role at Meta if he believed the allegations against them were true.
In his online Q&A, Clegg voiced his bewilderment on the tech industry’s deepening obsession with masculinity. He stated, “I couldn’t, and still can’t, understand this deeply unattractive combination of machismo and self-pity.” This reflection says more than about the amazing, disgusting, even criminal — if not pathetic — attitude that exists today in Silicon Valley.
Clegg seeks to sell his book while walking the razor’s edge of a toxic distraction. Along with his deep critiques of Silicon Valley, he counters these criticisms with a defense of the choices he made while leading Meta. He acknowledged the complexities and imperfections of social media, asserting, “I really do believe that, despite its imperfections, social media has allowed billions of people … to communicate with each other in a way that has never happened before.”
Clegg’s comments are an amazing window into the rising anti-tech sentiment from ex-tech titans. Years later, many of them are beginning to doubt the industry’s status quo customs and practices. His upcoming book looks set to illuminate these topics even further. For these reasons, TEF will contribute important knowledge to important conversations around technology’s future and its effects on our society.
Now, Clegg is lobbying hard in favor of “How to Save the Internet.” His criticisms and praise for Silicon Valley alike are sure to strike a chord with readers looking for equilibrium in our increasingly bifurcated tech world. His approach highlights the importance of dialogue and critical thinking as society navigates the challenges posed by technology in everyday life.
