The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has addressed ‘growing criticism’ that Facebook helped Donald Trump emerge winner in the just concluded US presidential election.
He insisted that the small amount of fake news that spread on the social network during the election did not influence the outcome.
He made this known on Thursday during the Techonomy conference in Half Moon Bay, Calif, adding that people underestimated support for president-elect Donald Trump.
Reacting to the claim, Zuckerberg said “To think it influenced the election in any way is a pretty crazy idea.”
“I do think there is a certain profound lack of empathy in asserting that the only reason someone could have voted the way they did is they saw some fake news.
“A lot of questions are emerging about Facebook’s role in this year’s election cycle, especially given the proliferation of sensationalistic and even outright fake news stories.
“If you believe that, then I don’t think you have internalized the message the Trump supporters are trying to send in this election.
“Part of what I think is going on here is people are trying to understand the results of the election.
“I think there is a certain profound lack of empathy in asserting that the only reason why someone could have voted the way they did is because they saw some fake news.
“I think the idea that fake news on Facebook – of which it’s a very small amount of the content-influenced the election in any way is a pretty crazy idea,” the philanthropist added.
Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election stunned many, including polling analysts and the media.
Since then, many questions about the role of social media and mass media at large have Trump won the presidential election on Wednesdayin an incredible victory that has shocked pundits and observers all around the world.