You’ll no longer find Star Wars’ Mark Hamill on Facebook as he’s now deleted his account. The actor known by most for his role as Luke Skywalker has opted to remove himself from the social media platform in protest. However, Hamill remains active on Twitter for those now in need of a new place to follow him.
Facebook has taken a staunch stance against compromising on what it feels is limiting free speech. This is specifically in relation to other social media sites that have opted to intervene in their service as a means to limit what users can post and promote, especially in terms of politics. Instead, Facebook continues to allow users to mostly post what they want, including politicians, even if they are intentionally lying or looking to mislead people. It appears that this latter decision by Facebook is what has forced Hamill to make the decision he has.
In confirming the cancellation of his own Facebook account, Hamill pointed the blame squarely at Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stating he was “so disappointed” in Zuckerberg and suggesting he and Facebook value “profit more than truthfulness.” All of which has led to Hamill deciding to leave the platform in protest so that he can sleep better at night.
There’s a slight irony in a celebrity having to take to one social media platform to announce they are quitting another. In many ways, it highlights the power of these sites and how social media is needed, regardless of whether a user agrees with the perceived political stance of those who control the service’s direction. In addition, while Facebook appears to be absorbing most of the criticism, most social media sites have become vessels for misinformation and likely benefit from the viral nature of misleading and protesting messages on the platform generate. In this sense, it would be a more powerful stance if a celebrity removed themselves completely from all social media as a means to highlight the much wider and overriding issues facing these services.
In fact, when announcing the Facebook account closure, Hamill himself made the point that “this is a big "Who Cares?" for the world at large” and that’s likely to be true. Those who continue to use Facebook and feel Hamill has overreacted are unlikely to miss him. Conversely, those who have adopted a similar stance by avoiding using Facebook will equally be unaware he’s no longer on the platform. Of course, this does also put Hamill in the position that it will be harder for him to return to the platform if and when the extra exposure is needed. Especially as Facebook seems highly unlikely to change its stance before Hamill does.
As for whether Hamill’s move will affect the Star Wars Franchise, it seems unlikely anything can do that. The latest movie, The Rise of Skywalker, is already on track to surpass $1 billion at the worldwide box office this week and that’s in spite of this installment posting the lowest opening weekend of the most recent Star Wars trilogy.
Source: Mark Hamill / Twitter
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