Mark Zuckerberg shares why he told his 7-year-old daughter she 'cannot be Taylor Swift' when she grows up

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mark Zuckerberg, known for his tech empire, recently shared an intriguing parenting moment.

The Meta CEO revealed on the 'Acquired' podcast that he had to gently shut down his seven-year-old daughter, August Chan Zuckerberg, when she expressed a desire to grow up like none other than pop icon Taylor Swift.

Mark Zuckerberg shares parenting moment

Zuckerberg explained, “One day, my daughter. We took her to a Taylor Swift concert, and she was like, ‘You know, Dad, I kind of want to be like Taylor Swift when I grow up.’”

His response was a straightforward but thought-provoking one: “But you can’t. That’s not available to you.”

It wasn't meant to discourage her ambition, but rather to plant the seeds of originality.

His message hit home when August, whom she had with wife, Priscilla Chan later replied, “Alright, when I grow up I want people to want to be like August Chan Zuckerberg.”

The proud father couldn't hide his enthusiasm: “Hell yeah. Hell yeah,” he recounted.

Zuckerberg, 40, may be a tech mogul, but he's also a self-proclaimed "girl dad." Along with his wife, Priscilla, he’s raising three daughters—Maxima, 8, August, and Aurelia, 13 months.

The family attended Swift's Eras Tour in Santa Clara, California, last year, where Zuckerberg was fully in “dad mode,” complete with face gems and friendship bracelets.

"Life of a girl dad," he posted on Instagram, showing a lighter side of the tech titan.

Mark Zuckerberg's advice for success: 'Be original'

Despite his admiration for Swift, Zuckerberg’s advice to his daughters and young tech entrepreneurs alike leans on a foundation of individuality.

When asked about his counsel for those entering the tech world, Zuckerberg emphasized: "Do something you care about. If you are trying to pattern out strategy, learn as quickly as you can."

He believes in carving one's own path, a principle that aligns with his refusal to let his daughter merely follow in someone else’s footsteps. While Swift's success is undeniable, Zuckerberg’s message was clear: originality is key.

His latest public appearance on 'Acquired' comes on the heels of his continued focus on Meta’s advancements in AI.

Recently honored by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in AI, Zuckerberg discussed the future of social media, AI, and technology.

He shared, “Fun night at the Chase Center talking lessons from the early days and what’s coming in the next decade.”

As part of Meta’s ambitious AI endeavors, the company has received the green light to train its AI technology using billions of public posts from Facebook and Instagram in the UK, while negotiations with the EU remain at a standstill.

Meta assures users that it won’t be using private messages or content from individuals under 18.

Viewers voice opposing reactions to Zukerberg's advice 

In the wake of Mark Zuckerberg's recent advice to his daughters, viewers have had a lot to say, sharing their opposing thoughts and critiques online.

One viewer expressed, "I don’t want my son to be like Zuckerberg so now he should know how we all feel. Neither he nor Swift would be what I want my child to be like character wise."

Another viewer shared, "A better lesson would have been - “well, others trying to be like you is not available to them either, because everyone is a unique individual that brings their own unique contribution's to this world, just be your best self and you can inspire others to be their own”…

One viewer pointed out, "With Meta nearing end-of-life, its all hands on deck."

A follower observed, "Strange word of choice...Now that he has daughters let's see what he thinks of the impacts of social media has on teenage girls and cyber bullying."

One comment stated, "He totally made that story up."

Another comment read, "I wouldn’t want kids to be like him. What a shame he shuts down a little girl’s fanciful dream and allow her to enjoy those times."

"What an odd thing to say to his daughter," explained an individual.

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