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Nick Clegg, Britain’s former Deputy Prime Minister and until recently Meta’s President of Global Affairs, has lifted the lid on what he calls the “cloying conformity” of Silicon Valley. In a candid conversation with The Guardian tied to his new book How to Save the Internet, Clegg argued that the so-called disruptors of tech are anything but free thinkers.
“Everyone wears the same clothes, drives the same cars, listens to the same podcasts, follows the same fads,” he said, describing the Bay Area as “a place born of immense herd-like behaviour”.
This contradiction, he argued, fuels a culture where privilege feels like oppression. From Musk’s chainsaw-wielding stunts to the echo chambers of tech podcasts, Clegg sees a community obsessed with strength yet steeped in grievance.
Yet, he warns of new challenges, particularly the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence and the growing concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few companies. Left unaddressed, he predicts, it could provoke “pitchfork fury” against tech’s elite.
“The funniest thing,” he told Bloomberg earlier this year, “is that Silicon Valley prides itself on challenging orthodoxy, yet it is the most conformist place I’ve ever lived.”
“Everyone wears the same clothes, drives the same cars, listens to the same podcasts, follows the same fads,” he said, describing the Bay Area as “a place born of immense herd-like behaviour”.
Machismo Meets Self-Pity
Clegg didn’t hold back in critiquing the attitudes of Silicon Valley’s elite. Referring to figures like Elon Musk and other “tech bros,” he pointed out a paradox: despite their wealth and influence, many see themselves as victims. “I couldn’t, and still can’t, understand this deeply unattractive combination of machismo and self-pity,” he told The Guardian.This contradiction, he argued, fuels a culture where privilege feels like oppression. From Musk’s chainsaw-wielding stunts to the echo chambers of tech podcasts, Clegg sees a community obsessed with strength yet steeped in grievance.
Still Defending Social Media’s Core
Interestingly, Clegg stops short of condemning his former bosses, Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg. While acknowledging mistakes, he insists he joined Meta because he believed they wanted change. His book frames social media as a double-edged sword—flawed, but ultimately a tool that has empowered billions.Yet, he warns of new challenges, particularly the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence and the growing concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few companies. Left unaddressed, he predicts, it could provoke “pitchfork fury” against tech’s elite.
From Westminster to Silicon Valley and Back
Clegg’s criticism carries weight not only because of his senior role at Meta but also because of his political pedigree. Having served as the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015, he was no stranger to power. But Silicon Valley, he says, shocked him with its self-importance disguised as innovation.“The funniest thing,” he told Bloomberg earlier this year, “is that Silicon Valley prides itself on challenging orthodoxy, yet it is the most conformist place I’ve ever lived.”
