Mark Zuckerberg’s attempts to enter the Chinese market have been met with both amusement and irony. Recently, the Beijing Daily, a popular social media account in China, took a dig at the Facebook CEO and his company Meta. While Meta is trying to sell virtual reality gear in China, their path may not be as smooth as they hoped.
An opinion piece shared by the Beijing Daily account highlighted how Zuckerberg played a significant role in lobbying Congress to ban TikTok, a major competitor owned by China’s ByteDance. The article also pointed out instances where Zuckerberg criticized TikTok’s censorship and accused China of intellectual property theft.
This backlash against Zuckerberg and Meta is not entirely surprising, considering the rocky history between Facebook and China. Following the Urumqi riots in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2009, Facebook, along with other US social media apps, was blocked by the Chinese government. The move was seen by many Chinese citizens as a necessary measure against terrorism.
Despite this resistance, Zuckerberg tried to build bridges with China. He made efforts to cozy up to Lu Wei, the then-head of the Cyberspace Administration of China. Zuckerberg even strategically placed President Xi Jinping’s book on his desk during a meeting with Lu Wei. However, these gestures were seen as awkward and insincere.
Zuckerberg’s attempts to connect with China’s political leaders continued, including meetings with senior Communist Party officials. But these efforts did not impress Beijing. Additionally, Meta has been facing scrutiny from Western-aligned countries like the EU and Australia for data mishandling and the spread of disinformation.
Frustrated by his lack of success, Zuckerberg seemingly resorted to an entitled rage. He targeted TikTok, not just for business reasons but also on a personal level. Banning TikTok from the US market would not only benefit Meta but also serve as a form of vindication for his almost-unnamed child, thanks to President Xi’s refusal to play along with naming games.
However, for Beijing, the ban on Meta’s products was driven by national interests, not personal grudges. With President Xi’s anti-corruption stance, it was clear that Zuckerberg’s attempts to cozy up wouldn’t yield the desired results. Politics in Beijing operate differently from how Zuckerberg may be used to in Washington.
If Beijing decides to intervene in Meta’s Quest VR deal with Tencent, Zuckerberg will have himself to blame. However, for many non-billionaires, this outcome may seem well-deserved and even amusing.
In conclusion, Zuckerberg’s attempts to make inroads in China have been met with resistance and ridicule. From Beijing’s perspective, it was a matter of national interest, not personal grudges. While Zuckerberg’s efforts may have been well-intentioned, they ultimately fell short. As for the Chinese market, it remains to be seen if Meta can overcome these obstacles and achieve success.
