You’ve seen it. That specific, slightly jarring image of the world’s most famous tech billionaire seemingly glitching in real-time. Whether it was the infamous white-faced surfing incident or the more recent “zesty” social media clips, the Mark Zuckerberg tongue out phenomenon has become a weirdly permanent fixture of internet lore. It's more than just a bad photo. It's a case study in how we view the people who run our digital lives.
Honestly, we’ve spent years wondering if the guy is actually human or just a very advanced Large Language Model in a Patagonia vest. When he does something genuinely odd with his face, the internet doesn't just laugh—it analyzes.
The Hawaii Incident: Sunscreen, Paparazzi, and the Lizard Memes
The most famous instance of the Mark Zuckerberg tongue out look happened back in 2020. You remember the one. Zuckerberg was eFoiling in Hawaii, his face absolutely caked in a thick, ghostly layer of white zinc sunscreen. He looked less like a CEO and more like a mime who had lost his way to the theater.
In some of the shots from that day, his tongue is slightly out, or his facial expressions are just... off.
Why did he do it? Zuck actually addressed this later in an Instagram Live with Adam Mosseri. He claimed he saw a paparazzi photographer and thought, "I don’t want him to recognize me." His logic was that if he slathered on enough white paste, he’d become invisible.
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It backfired.
Instead of being a "stealth" billionaire, he became a global meme. People compared him to the Joker, Mrs. Doubtfire, and—most persistently—a lizard. The "lizard person" conspiracy theory has followed him for a decade, fueled by his occasionally stiff public appearances. When he sticks his tongue out, the internet collectively screams, "See! He's tasting the air!"
The 2024 Glow-Up: From Robot to "Zesty" Zuck
Fast forward to 2024 and 2025. Something shifted. Mark Zuckerberg went through a massive personal rebrand. The grey t-shirts were replaced by oversized graphic tees, gold chains, and a halo of curls. He started looking less like a guy who was about to testify before Congress and more like a guy who just finished a set at a Coachella side stage.
During this "Glow-up" era, new clips emerged. In one particular Meta AI promotional video, Zuckerberg makes a series of quick facial expressions, including a brief Mark Zuckerberg tongue out moment that the internet immediately labeled as "zesty."
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Why the vibe changed
- The Chain: He started wearing a gold chain engraved with a prayer he says to his kids.
- The Hair: He ditched the "Caesar" cut for natural curls.
- The Hobbies: He’s obsessed with MMA and hydrofoiling, which makes him look more "active" and less "server room."
This newer version of the tongue-out meme is different. It’s less "creepy robot" and more "awkward dad trying to be cool." There is a weirdly humanizing quality to it. We're seeing a guy who has spent twenty years being the most scrutinized person on the planet finally decide to lean into the weirdness.
Is it a PR Tactic?
There is a theory among image consultants—and people on Reddit—that these "awkward" moments are curated. If Zuckerberg looks a little silly or sticks his tongue out, it takes the edge off his image as a powerful, data-hungry mogul. It’s hard to be afraid of a guy who looks like a confused mime on a surfboard.
Some call it "strategic relatability." Others think he’s just a 40-year-old guy who isn't particularly photogenic when he's focused on not falling off a hydrofoil.
Experts like Kara Swisher have noted for years that Zuckerberg has historically struggled with anxiety in public, sometimes sweating through his shirts or appearing physically uncomfortable. If he's sticking his tongue out now, it might actually be a sign that he’s more relaxed. He’s stopped trying to be the perfect, polished CEO and started being the guy who posts videos of himself eating brisket and drinking beer.
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Why We Can't Stop Looking
We're obsessed with the Mark Zuckerberg tongue out images because they represent a break in the "Meta" mask.
Think about it. This is a man who controls the flow of information for billions of people. He lives behind high walls in Kauai and Palo Alto. We only see what he wants us to see—usually polished corporate keynotes or carefully edited family photos.
When a "Rare Zuck" appears—whether it's the sunscreen face or a weirdly timed tongue flick—it feels like we’ve caught a glimpse of the real person. Or at least, the real awkwardness.
What This Means for You
You don't need a billion dollars to learn from the Zuck-meme cycle. The biggest takeaway here is about personal branding and the "uncanny valley." When you try too hard to be perfect, people find the flaws and magnify them. When you embrace the weirdness, the internet eventually moves from mockery to a sort of weird, ironic respect.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Online Presence:
- Don't over-calculate your "disguise": Just like the sunscreen incident, trying too hard to hide your flaws often makes them the center of attention.
- Lean into the rebrand: If you're stuck in a rut, a physical change (like Zuck’s hair and chains) can actually shift public perception, even if people are skeptical at first.
- Humanity > Polished: The "zesty" and "awkward" moments often perform better than the corporate ones because they feel authentic, even if they're a little cringey.
At the end of the day, Mark Zuckerberg is going to keep surfing, keep building AI, and probably keep making weird faces. Whether he's a lizard, a robot, or just a guy who needs better sunscreen application skills, the memes aren't going anywhere.