Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg named Time's 2010 Person of the Year

[jefferson_dem]

Source: MSNBC

By Laura T. Coffey
TODAYshow.com contributor TODAYshow.com contributor



Meet the second-youngest individual ever to be named TIME magazine’s Person of the Year: Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of the omnipresent social-networking site Facebook.

You may feel as though you already know the 26-year-old. If you regularly use a computer, you probably interact with Zuckerberg’s Facebook empire on at least some level.

And maybe you’ve seen the acclaimed movie “The Social Network,” which portrays Zuckerberg as socially stunted, calculating and arrogant.

But is there more to this story? Yes, TIME editors discovered — and that’s what prompted the magazine to choose the multibillionaire CEO for the Person of the Year distinction.

<SNIP>

The magazine’s No. 2 runner-up after Zuckerberg was the Tea Party, a loose affiliation of American citizens united by their dislike of big government.

No. 3: Julian Assange, whose WikiLeaks organization has shared reams of sensitive diplomatic cables with the world.

Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/40665998/ns/today-today_celebrates_2010/

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Time should have followed

Rolling Stones' lead by choosing Assange.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Agreed. But, hey, at least it wasn't the second place pick...

Teabaggers! Ugh...

[rfranklin]

4. Well, weren't Hitler and Stalin also named previously?

As were the Bush crime family bosses. It isn't necessarily and endorsement.

[redirish28]

3. I thought they had choosen Assange. Instead they pick some idiot

who is making millions selling peoples infomation to the highest bidder and doesn't think people deserves privacy...

[ChumbawambaFan]

13. Well, Facebook is more important for the world than Wikileaks.

:sarcasm:

[dbmk]

23. And even if it was - why this year apart from last year or the year before? n/t

[ChumbawambaFan]

26. Mark Zuckerberg should decline the award and recommend Julian Assange. nt

[harvey007]

94. Good idea

[ooglymoogly]

30. +1 nt

[AlbertCat]

74. why this year apart from last year or the year before?

Because there wasn't a movie about it (they had probably invested in) out then.


TIME is a self promoting advertisement supplement.


I stopped my subscription when....of all the things going on in the world, TIME's cover was "Superman Turns 50!" (that was a while ago)

[Arctic Dave]

79. Spot on assessment. Time, CNN and the rest of the media conglomeration

is just a loop cycle to promote its own business interest.

[NashVegas]

45. It Is, To the Marketing World

[RZM]

52. Actually

I think you could make a case that it is. Far more people use Facebook than care a whit about Wikileaks. Diplomacy and leaks are not new phenomena -- mass social networking on the internet is.

I'm not sure which I think is more important -- or if it's even a good comparison on any level, but I think the case could be made (I'm sure Zuckerberg could make it better than I could).

[City Lights]

16. IIRC, the people voted for Assange in Time's online poll.

And, of course, Time doesn't care what its readers think.

[dbmk]

22. Well, for good reason its only a poll of the readers opinions

Or Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf would have been on the front page in 1998. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_the_Angry_Drunken_Dwarf

This year the peoples choice seemed the right one though. Why Facebook in 2010? Because of a movie?

Assange was clearly the person of the year. I can't see an argument against it.

Seems highly politically motivated.

[City Lights]

33. The reader's poll in the Wiki link you posted is referring to People Magazine.

IMO, Mr. Facebook would be a perfect choice for People. Time is supposed to be a news magazine. Their choice for "Person of the Year" has an American Idol quality about it. Very much a turn-off. :puke:

[dbmk]

85. I stand corrected

Though the idea applies. :)

[MsLeopard]

36. Just like our government doesn't care

what We the Peasants, er People, think. :puke:

[redirish28]

77. Thanks for clarifying

[joeglow3]

31. People don't deserve privacy?

I love people who willingly join a website, give them all their information (when NONE of it is needed) and then whine like they are the victim of some grand conspiracy.

I have a Facebook page and guess how much of my private information has been sold: NONE OF IT because I am not stupid enough to hand it over to a stranger.

[Wednesdays]

46. That's a good philosophy

I always go by the axiom that if you post it on the web, you might as well have pinned the message on the bulletin board at your local shopping mall. Even if you think it's on a "secure" site behind a password.

However, too many people around are just plain gullible.
:banghead:

[tinkerbell41]

51. I was under that impression also.

I seem to remember as of Monday the top vote WAS Assange.

[Creative]

84. Idiot...? Making billions...? Somehow, those two things don't seem to correspond to one another.

[freshwest]

91. Any idiot can make a fortune

If they're well connected.

Facebook has long said to be part of the total surveillance society.

If anyone can package that attractively and pull enough suckers into the game, that's worth a lot of money.

To someone. You know the ones. Them. They. Muahaha!

[Creative]

96. Well then, we should proceed to become a nation of idiots without further delay.

Then, we will all become rich beyond our wildest imaginations.

:hi:

[swilton]

37. +1

[rabies1]

72. Excellent idea!!!

How is this man big on free speech?
Many people have been censored or had their sites shut down.
(Like Boycott BP, etc.)

[eShirl]

5. augh, my eyes!

I shall have to avoid newsstands for a week

[ThatsMyBarack]

55. Yeah, I agree.

Not another rich white ugly asshat! :puke:

[Bragi]

6. How totally boring /nt

[Demeter]

7. Give Me a Break!

Money over principles, profit over democracy, "face" over substance?

[Auggie]

19. Celebrity over news

[Pharaoh]

8. Proof Time is a corporate tool

for not going with Julian Assange.

[Poll_Blind]

64. +1

PB

[tax_cuts_r_us]

95. It's amazing how much attention you get with a couple billion dollars.

Society discounts the efforts of those people who toil daily to raise their children, take care of their aging parents, and volunteer their time to help other's less fortunate. They are the glue that holds our society together. But some overly-ambitiuos nerd manages to amass a large fortune by preying on other people's lonliness and he gets celebrated.

[fatbuckel]

9. Sheep!

[elias49]

10. Pathetic

Maybe twit of the year.

[cbdo2007]

11. the pick isn't so bad, but that picture is horrible

[ChumbawambaFan]

14. Pick and Pic are both bad. nt

[City Lights]

18. Agreed. nt

[avaistheone1]

27. Bad on both counts.

Can't believe they chose empty suit Zuckerman for Time person of the year.

How are they going to sell their magazines with his ugly mug on the cover? Ewwwwwwwwww.

[BenzoDia]

12. It's a conspiracy!!

Ehm, am I doing this right?

[ChumbawambaFan]

15. According to the Webster Dictionary definition of conspiracy...

...erm, no you failed there too. Sorry.

Because, the gov't and corporate elite aren't bothering to act in secret.
An essential aspect of any 'conspiracy'.

[BenzoDia]

20. 'o' is an essential aspect of 'too'

I'm playing around. Lighten up! ;)

[ChumbawambaFan]

21. ....not 'essential', you still got the idea.

....I think.:)
But thnaks for the correction all the same.Thnaks vary much!
I'm new here by the way. Aren't you going to welcome me aboard? Jeez.

[BenzoDia]

24. Sorry, I forgot my manners. Welcome to DU!

I sometimes forget that not everyone has 1000+ posts.

[ChumbawambaFan]

35. NP, Thanks!

:)

[Renew Deal]

48. Newb fight!!!

Two members with less than 100 posts brawling like old timers. I love it!

Welcome to DU for both of you! :hi:

[ChumbawambaFan]

60. (Ducks chair) Thank you. Thank you all. (Bows Exits) nt

:)

[GodlessBiker]

17. Just another indication of the once mighty Time sinking into disgrace.

[harun]

25. Yawn

[ooglymoogly]

28. The Yawn forTime is becoming cavernous. The continuing ever boring and forgettable Time mag.

Don't think I will be rushing out to buy this one. Yes Facebook is phenomenal and quite an amazing achievement. Beyond that; is its founder of any interest to anybody accept folks with silly putty for brains.

[hatrack]

43. Time Magazine = Essence of Cokie Roberts in print format

Now, if they could just formulate it as a perfume!

[erpowers]

29. Google and The United States Supreme Court

Mark Zuckerberg was a poor choice for Time Magazine's person of the year. For years Time Magazine has said it based its person of the year on the person or thing that most impacted the world for good or bad. I do not see how Zuckerberg has had that much of an impact on the world this year. Both Google and the United States Supreme Court have had bigger impact on the world this year.

Late last year or early this year Google introduced its Android operating system which would be found on smartphones and the Samsung Galaxy Tablet. This year Apple announced that it would be ending it exculsive contract with AT&T. Since Apple introduced the iphone people had complained about having to have a contract with AT&T, but Apple did not allow people to buy the phone from any provider. Some have stated that as a result of the success of the Android operating system Apple was forced to end the exclusive contract with AT&T.

Earlier this year the United States Supreme Court in the Citizens United case gave a ruling that could impact the entire world. It impacts the entire world in that it can impact presidential elections. The person elected President of the United States can have a major impact on what goes on around the world.

[nyc 4 Biden]

32. Boo! n/t

[madmax]

34. Unbelievable.

Then again...

[Odin2005]

38. BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[bullwinkle428]

39. Why is everyone shocked that it wasn't Assange? HE SHOWS UP THE MEDIA

FOR THE COMPLETELY BOUGHT-AND-PAID-FOR PILE OF SHIT THAT THEY ARE!!!

Tell me again why they would want to recognize that?

[Art_from_Ark]

41. You said it

Thumbs-down to TIME :thumbsdown:

[EFerrari]

83. Yup. Assange got 20X more votes, too, so it's not a secret. n/t

[onehandle]

40. Facebook is a plague on the Internet. Example --->

[ChumbawambaFan]

42. Feel free to voice your concern or displeasure w/ Time...(Oops, sorry, meant to reply to OP)

...anywhere you want.

But here's one option:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2036683_2037118_2037146,00.html

[City Lights]

44. Indeed! nt

[Renew Deal]

47. Cop out!

How did Facebook jump the teabaggers and assange? Doesn't make sense.

[jotsy]

49. The machine's choice.

And the cowardice of the most visible gate keepers to oblige.

A list of those with the courage to tell it like it is, instead of how they want us to see it; as the calling requires.
<http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/15-2>

[Irishonly]

50. Stupid N/T

[howaboutme]

53. He is a thief

according to the twins that had their concept stolen by Zuckerburg and were subsequently awarded millions of dollars. On top of that the concept itself steals our privacy and wastes our time.

Good job Time..not. http://mashable.com/2010/12/09/winklevoss-twins-lawsuit-facebook/

[cbdo2007]

57. Funny response coming from someone on an internet message board.

ha ha hahahahaha, as if DU created the internet message board. Facebook doesn't steal anyone's privacy. and keeping up with my friends and family is hardly more of a waste of time than all the useless sh*t we all talk about here on DU.

[howaboutme]

93. To each his own

I understand that some become obsessed with Facebook. I never found it useful so instead I just waste my time publishing my worthless opinions on a forum. However I refuse to put my life on the internet for Mark Zuckerburg and Facebook to profit and use, and have strangers view, and no telling what others will do, all while getting an ego boost from having so many "friends". I've received odd automated email where acquaintances have asked be to become their FB friends. I know it comes not from them but because FB hijacked their address book.

The whole concept is about dumbing us down so we don't worry about more important stuff and mess with their agenda of information control, and it always helps others to know everything there is about us. Actually the internet itself represents a most efficient medium and efficient method where the PTB and others can understand users better than users understand themselves. It is a built in honey pot of information for the PTB and marketers that we users develop on our own and they harvest it.

[EFerrari]

58. Didn't he offer his users information to someone

calling his users idiots or something? He sounds like a gem.

[Wednesdays]

54. I agree, it's a poor choice...

But we have to be thankful, because there are a lot worse they could easily have picked instead...





(These are "good" candidates, meaning that even though they're repulsive, they were in the news a lot in 2010.)

[ThatsMyBarack]

56. All those pix....

Belong on the wall at the post office!

[bikebloke]

59. Because he amassed so much schadenfeude.

When the little shit falls, the world will celebrate.

[jimlup]

61. A truly pitiful choice

Don't tell me TIME has lost its edge. It never had an edge. What a poor excuse for journalism. The dumbing down and diverting of America is their job - not the reporting news.

[placton]

62. Kathy Lee and Hoda next year! yayyyyy! n/t

[lynne]

63. Proper choice, IMO. Facebook has changed society -

- via how and when people interact with each other. Love it or hate it, it has made the larger change in how we live.

[tridim]

70. Then Facebook should be person of the year. Not Zuckerberg.

He didn't invent social media.

[howaboutme]

97. The question is - for the good or the bad?

I look at it as just another way Hollywood and the media (video games, movies, reality TV) keep people occupied and entertained so they are not learning or being informed. Just as someone else has said, the Coliseum in Rome served a similar purpose.

[iamthebandfanman]

65. wowie... someone at time is smokin' crack.

what horrible choices for all top 3. what a sad world we must live in if these are our people of the year ...

btw, i didnt know the tea party was a person... but okay.

[AlphaCentauri]

66. Our obsession with celebrities n/t

[lobodons]

67. I would have preferred Assange BUT

at least it wasn't the Tea Party. Oh God, that would have been unbearable!!!!!!!

[Uncle Joe]

68. Assange/Wikileaks threatened the current state of corporate supremacy, Facebook enhances it.

The former empowers the people by working for transparency of government and corporations, whereas the latter gives power to corporate dominated government by exposing information on the people.

Information or knowledge is power.

If the corporate media; including Time had been a faithful watchdog for the people, there would never have been any need, cause or demand for Wikileaks.

Wikileaks; very existence was a De Facto repudiation of Time and the greater corporate media's long time betrayal against the American People's best interests.

This selection by Time; a status quo corporate supremacy publication is no surprise to me.

Thanks for the thread, jefferson_dem.

[tridim]

69. Time Ragazine just became irrelevant. Worst choice EVER.

I honestly can't think of a worse choice.

[JackRiddler]

71. New TIME slogan: We fart, and for some reason you still care.

[KamaAina]

73. Should have read "Time wusses out on Assange"

:eyes:

[gauguin57]

75. Keep in mind: Person of the Year doesn't mean BEST person of the year...

... Time's Person of the Year is the person Time feels had the most influence on the world, the culture, whatever in the past year. It isn't honoring Zuckerberg as a great guy or anything. After all, Hitler was once Man of the Year.

While I have other choices, I can support this choice. After all, 500 million people are on Facebook ... and Facebook increases its reach into people's lives every few weeks with some new app or trend or whatever. That's pretty extensive influence.

My choice was the Chilean Miners ... only because they were a symbol of survival in a very dark year. But they don't influence the news the way Zuckerberg's company does.

[Ruperto31]

81. Do you think we don't know that?

I haven't seen anyone in this thread making that error.

[ProudDad]

76. Shittiest "choice" since Adolph Hitler...

Bread and circuses...

That's all this stupid country is about...

[Ruperto31]

82. You have disproved my previous post.

Apparently some of us don't know the Time criterion for "Man of the Year."

[ProudDad]

98. Their major criterion lately

seems to be deception...

And avoidance of ruffled feathers among the powerful...

[LanternWaste]

78. This will certainly frustrate the cooler-than-thou crowd.

This will certainly frustrate the cooler-than-thou crowd.

[reformist2]

80. He's not even that noteworthy. Social networking already was big before Facebook.

[Kali]

86. is Time magazine even relevant anymore?

who cares? Just more infotainment (like fb, itself if you ask me) to keep the masses stupified and stupid.

[Old Troop]

87. Hmm. Tie in to the movie, anyone?

[Pavulon]

88. Guess 4chan is disappointed, every third post was an assange link(nt)

[Matilda]

89. Blah!

n/t

[tabasco]

90. Time must be run by a bunch of dumbasses.

Facebook. LOL.

[rug]

92. It should have been Tom.

[BOG PERSON]

99. is it 2007 already?