Our need to 'share' too much created monster called Facebook
As for power, Zuckerberg has an audience of more than 2.2 billion monthly users and the ability to call together a couple dozen of Silicon Valley's top technology leaders at a summit to discuss best practices -- something that, by the way, more than one lawmaker asked him to do to advance their pet causes.
As for money, Forbes and Bloomberg both put Zuckerberg's net worth at about $70 billion. He lost an estimated $15 billion due to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. But he made back $3 billion after his first day of congressional testimony.
Politicians need money like an opioid addict needs pills. So each time one of them told Zuckerberg during the hearings that he or she looked forward to "following up" with him, that could've been the signal. The bite is coming. This was no shake up. This was a shakedown. At least Tony Soprano did it with more style.
Again, we started this. We made Zuckerberg rich and powerful. All because of our insatiable need to share stuff and show off our "perfect" relationships, vacations, children and cuisine. How much of it is real? They ought to call it "Falsebook."
For some people, it's not about sharing but stirring. They like to know they're having an effect on other people.
That reminds me. After this column runs, I'll probably post it on Facebook. Hope you "Like" it.
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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.
(c) 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group
