Facebook looks to make amends with consumers
Former Microsoft chief strategy officer Mark Penn discusses Facebook’s response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal and what Mark Zuckerberg needs to do to win over the American public.
A growing number of familiar faces and companies are choosing to delete Facebook or cease advertising on the digital platform amid reports that the social media giant allowed a British firm to illicitly collect personal data from millions of Americans.
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Facebook shares have entered a bear market — plunging 20% or more from a recent high — after reports that Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm that worked on President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, harvested data from more than 50 million users without their consent. The revelation prompted an investigation from the Federal Trade Commission into Facebook’s privacy practices.
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder and CEO, admitted the company made mistakes for the data breach in a post and said the company was taking steps to prevent similar mishaps in the future. Sheryl Sandberg, the company’s COO, also expressed regret in her own post.
Zuckerberg has also agreed to testify before Congress regarding Facebook’s role in the scandal, according to multiple reports.
While Zuckerberg has vowed to fix Facebook’s vulnerabilities, some prominent users aren’t waiting for the social platform to reform. FOX Business breaks down some of the notable figures severing ties with Facebook.
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Elon Musk
The billionaire tech entrepreneur deleted company Facebook pages for two of the companies he founded: SpaceX and Tesla. Musk added in a series of tweets that none of his companies have ever advertised on Facebook or any other platform.
“It’s not a political statement and I didn’t do this because someone dared me to do it,” Musk wrote. “Just don’t like Facebook. Gives me the willies. Sorry.”
Cher
The 71-year-old singer and actress said she deleted Facebook on March 20, days after the Cambridge Analytica story broke. Cher also criticized Zuckerberg for initially breaking his silence in a Facebook post, rather than in a public appearance.
Playboy
Cooper Hefner, Playboy’s chief creative officer and son of the late Hugh Hefner, said in a statement posted to his Twitter account that the magazine was leaving Facebook over “content guidelines and corporate policies [that] continue contradicting our values.”
Will Ferrell
In an ironic twist, the popular actor and comedian wrote on Facebook that he would be leaving the platform within 72 hours “in order to give this message enough time to get across to my fans and followers.”
Ferrell said he was “very disturbed” to learn of Cambridge Analytica’s improper use of user data.
Mozilla
The web browser suspended advertising on Facebook and said it would only consider returning to the platform if Zuckerberg makes good on his promise to strengthen privacy settings. The company also introduced a plug-in that allows Mozilla Firefox users to restrict Facebook’s access to their personal data.
Pep Boys
The auto parts retailer pulled its advertising from Facebook amid concerns related to the data breach.
“We are concerned about the issues surrounding Facebook and have decided to suspend all media on the platform until the facts are out and corrective actions have been taken,” Pep Boys chief marketing officer Danielle Porto Mohn said in a statement to Reuters.
