By Sara Lepley, features staff writer
When your brother created the website that revolutionized a generation, sibling rivalry may seem like a losing battle. Randi Zuckerberg, however, does not waver in her pursuit of creating a name for herself.
“Every article written about me now refers to me as Randi Zuckerberg, Mark’s sister,” Zuckerberg said in an interview with The New York Times. “Maybe one day that won’t be what people say about me.”
Since leaving her position as Facebook’s marketing director, she has launched a social media firm named R to Z Studios, tested out a reality television show called “Silicon Valley,” and is now writing a memoir titled “Dot Complicated,” named after her blog.
Zuckerberg originally left Facebook because she felt it suppressed her more free spirited personality. That personality, which critics refer to as “drunk and irresponsible,” has generated negative predictions about her book. On the contrary, her light hearted, tongue in cheek style could potentially reign in more readers than it drives away.
In her blogs, she takes a somewhat satirical approach to guiding people through the emerging social networking world. In one post, she gives “ten ways to set your child up for online success, before they are even born!”
She discusses the importance of securing an online identity your future child, including an email, a Twitter handle and especially a website domain. By using an over-the-top approach, she not only makes readers chuckle, but also sheds light on some of the impacts of the social media era, including the age at which children begin to create an online identity.
There is also a little irony when she asks “Is there a super high profile person with that name already, who will make it hard for your child’s name to rise to the top?” because she may feel her last name has prevented her from rising.
Her book may not win a Pulitzer Prize, and people may never refer to Mark Zuckerberg as “Randi’s brother,” but she should succeed in pleasing her target audience. Besides, isn’t her desire to improve herself and her legacy something that we can all appreciate?
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Bill Gate’s younger sister, Libby Gates, is the President of the “Board of the Lakeside School,” a board member of the “Program for Early Parenthood Support,” and an affiliate of the “Pomona College Board of Trustees”, “Make-A-Wish Foundation” and the “Washington Women’s Foundation” of Washington State. The only difference between she and Randi Zuckerberg is a quasi-relevant and “satirical” vocal presence. I seriously doubt that THE OTHER Zuckerberg would have been able to pursue even one of her personal business ventures,or better yet individualizing vendettas, without both the fiscal and creative backing of her brother. Siblings of earth-shakers like Mark Zuckerberg will never be able to step outside the enormous shadow cast by their kin. By all means, work for success like anyone else, but statements such as “Is there a super high profile person with that name already, who will make it hard for your child’s name to rise to the top?” show resentment where needed support and well-deserved appraisal should be.