Nick Clegg Labels Silicon Valley Culture "Cloyingly Conformist" and Riddled with "Machismo and Self-Pity"

London – Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and ex-President of Global Affairs at Meta, has launched a sharp critique of Silicon Valley's culture, describing it as "cloyingly conformist" and populated by wealthy individuals who often perceive themselves as victims despite immense privilege. His comments coincide with the upcoming release of his new book, "How to Save the Internet," which offers insights into his time at the tech giant.

Clegg, who resigned from Meta in January and has since returned to London, stated, "In Silicon Valley, far from thinking they’re lucky, they think they’re hard done by, [that] they’re victims." He expressed bewilderment at this "deeply unattractive combination of machismo and self-pity," highlighting a cultural paradox within the tech hub.

He further characterized the region as suffering from "herd-like behaviour," where innovation is stifled by uniformity. "Everyone wears the same clothes, drives the same cars, listens to the same podcasts, follows the same fads," Clegg observed, suggesting a pervasive lack of independent thought despite Silicon Valley's self-proclaimed disruptive ethos.

While critical of the broader culture, Clegg notably exempted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg from his censure, praising him as "thoughtful and endlessly curious." However, he cited figures like Elon Musk as examples of the "bravado" he found distasteful, noting that "if you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."

Clegg's book delves into how Silicon Valley's insularity has contributed to missteps and a narrow perspective within the tech industry. His departure from Meta preceded a shift in the political landscape, with tech billionaires like Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook reportedly seeking closer ties with Donald Trump.

His critique carries significant weight given his extensive background in both politics and technology. Having served as the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015, Clegg joined Meta (then Facebook) in 2018, initially as Vice President of Global Affairs before becoming President of Global Affairs in 2022.