Survey: Australians have negative views of Meta and Mark Zuckerberg
Nearly half of all Australians think Meta is having a negative impact on society, including one in three users of its products, according to a new poll.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nearly half of all Australians think Meta is having a negative impact on society, including one in three users of its products, according to a new poll.
The Freshwater Strategy poll found 56 per cent or 11.4 million adult Australians say they are Meta/Facebook users.
But while 73 per cent of Australians have a positive view of Google and 54 per cent approve of Amazon, Meta is regarded favourably by only 32 per cent of Australians.
Meta’s boss Mark Zuckerberg is even less-liked by Australians, with only 17 per cent of people having a positive view of him compared with 44 per cent whose view was unfavourable.
A clear majority – 60 per cent – said they disagreed with the statement: “Mark Zuckerberg cares deeply about the wellbeing of those who use his platform, Meta/Facebook”.
The poll of 1044 people conducted earlier this month has also cast doubt on Meta’s claim that its users don’t get their news from its products.
According to Freshwater 30 per cent Facebook users said the platform is the “main way” they “source information about current affairs and what’s going on in the world”.
Freshwater strategy director Dr Mike Turner said the survey showed the company was held in low regard and the public’s views had hardened against it.
“Even though more than three and a half million Australian adults say their main source of news comes from Meta, polling suggests the platform is being held in lower regard than previous years,” he said. “Even among users, a majority say they do not believe Mark Zuckerberg cares deeply enough about users of his platform, or that he makes every attempt to protect users from harmful content that may appear on the site.”
He was even less popular with people who no longer used it. “Those most scathing about Meta are actually its former or ‘lapsed’ users,” he said.
Got a news tip? Email weekendtele@news.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Survey: Australians have negative views of Meta and Mark Zuckerberg
‘Miracle drug’ completely shrinks baby boy’s tumour in weeks
Just 12-weeks into his short life, baby Flynn Christy was diagnosed with infantile fibrosarcoma – but a “miracle drug” has worked wonders on his large tumour.
Scomo calls for ‘at least’ 50 per cent hike in defence spending
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has called on the Albanese government to increase Defence spending by at least 50 per cent after three Chinese warships conducted live-fire exercises off the Australian coast this week.