Mark Zuckerberg’s wife Priscilla Chan has revealed how her two daughters, aged five and four, are already learning to code with their tech-whizz father.
The American philanthropist and a former paediatrician, 36, also admitted that she thought her Facebook-founder husband was a ‘bit of a rebel’ when they first met at Harvard 18 years ago.
Priscilla and Silicon Valley giant Mark, who married in 2012, share two daughters, Maxima, five, and August, four, and their bedtime routine involves stories and coding with their father.
The mother-of-two, who takes care of her children in the morning while Mark sets the bedtime routine, told Sunday Times Magazine: “Sometimes they will even read books together. Sometimes they’ll code together.
She said that August has been doing the same thing with Mark since she was three years of age.
Mark Zuckerberg’s wife Priscilla Chan (pictured with her family) has revealed how her two daughters, aged five and four, are already learning to code with their tech-whizz father
Famously, the couple met while waiting for the toilet at a Harvard frat party. Mark then dropped out to pursue the Facebook adventure.
A couple of dates occurred quickly, and while Priscilla liked Mark she was horrified at his lack of concern about rules and regulations.
‘I’m not a rule breaker… I had literally clawed my way to Harvard.,’ she said, before adding: ‘For straight-laced Priscilla, he was a bit of a rebel.’
Priscilla was a Harvard student on a scholarship. She said she had struggled to make friends with her future husband.
Priscilla’s remarks are made as Facebook’s inner workings will be revealed by a whistleblower again Monday, as UK MPs prepare for evidence.
The American philanthropist and a former paediatrician (pictured with her husband in 2019), 36, also admitted that she thought her Facebook-founder husband was a ‘bit of a rebel’ when they first met at Harvard 18 years ago
Former Facebook employee Frances Haugen has made numerous blistering claims about the tech giant since releasing thousands of pages of internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in the company’s civic integrity unit.
She has already spoken out about the social network across the pond on television and before politicians, alleging Facebook’s platforms ‘harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy’, and that it refuses to change its products because executives elevate profits over safety.
Ms Haugen also accused the tech giant, accusing it of knowing about the possible harm Instagram could cause to some teens and their body images. She said that the company had been dishonest in its fight against hate content and misinformation and that it had hidden research that showed it amplifies such content.
Monday afternoon, she will be confronted by questions from a UK committee that is reviewing the draft Online Safety Bill. This is as the Government tries to figure out how to regulate tech firms and social media.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg refuted the claims of Ms Haugen. He said that her attacks on the company were a’misrepresentation’ of the work it does.
The couple photographed in 2016 with Maxima, their daughter. The couple raise their children with a mixture of Jewish and Chinese Vietnamese influences
He said the company ‘cares deeply about issues like safety, well-being and mental health’ and that Ms Haugen’s recent evidence to a US congressional committee ‘just doesn’t reflect the company we know’.
“At its core, these accusations are the idea that we prioritize profit over safety or well-being. That’s just not true,’ he added.
Facebook is reportedly looking to rebrand its business name to try to distance itself from recent controversy.
However, when asked about her thoughts on the impact Instagram is having on young teenagers, Priscilla said parents should talk to their children and encourage them to share their feelings.
Priscilla said that while the couple raise their daughters Jewishly, they also incorporate elements from Chinese culture into their lives. Mark recites a Jewish prayer to his children in Mandarin every night before going to bed.
Priscilla learned Mandarin and Cantonese from her mother. However, she stated that her two daughters aren’t bilingual despite having tried. Mark, however, said that they have made sure that they are multi-cultural.
According to Sunday Times Magazine, the mother of two, who cares for her children in their morning while Mark arranges the bedtime routine, stated that they sometimes read books together. Sometimes they’ll code together.’ (Photo taken at her Harvard graduation ceremony, 2007).
The family enjoys a Shabbat dinner together with their friends on Fridays. Priscilla offers Chinese food along with Kosher dishes.
Priscilla reflected back on the couple’s decision to donate their Facebook shares through their CZI, or Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
She said that her husband was always aware of the Priscilla’s life mission’ and decided to give back the money he earned from Facebook as soon as 2005.
The mother of two also said that she didn’t care about the accusations that Facebook is making money – money that is used CZI – by offering a platform for hate speech.
She also admitted that she was disturbed by claims that Facebook exacerbates racial hatred upsettin. She said Facebook and her husband are working together to address these issues. She added that there is no cure for racist behavior and that the issue should be considered collectively.
Priscilla, when asked if Tech giants should have to pay their taxes, agreed that there should be some reform, but stressed that nobody could evade the IRS.
She added she felt a great responsibility to give back, and told how CZI donated $350 million (£253,810,200) to the Just Trust to help them reform the US justice system.
She said that she witnessed firsthand the consequences of prison sentences for loved-ones.