Alaska News

Mark Zuckerberg spent the holiday in Alaska. Here’s what the Facebook CEO learned.

Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent his Fourth of July holiday in Alaska, fishing and kayaking in the Homer area.

Alaska seems to have made an impression on the billionaire, who penned a long Facebook post in admiration of the state's Permanent Fund dividend, subsistence fishing and Alaska Native corporations.

"One thing that stood out to us is how different Alaska's social safety net programs are in a way that provides some good lessons for the rest of our country," Zuckerberg wrote, explaining how the PFD works and touting it as an example of basic income.

He said he also spent time learning about Alaska Native corporations and how those dividends work.

Priscilla and I spent the weekend around Homer, Alaska as part of the Year of Travel challenge. It's beautiful...

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Much of Zuckerberg's post centered on the idea of Alaska having a unique social safety net, including subsistence fishing.

"(A) common issue with safety net programs is stigma for participating, but here everyone we met was proud of this — both for its cultural heritage and for the individual accomplishment of catching and preparing their salmon," he wrote.

He posted photos of an otter he and his wife, Priscilla Chan, kayaked past in Kachemak Bay State Park, and a bald eagle they spotted on the Fourth of July.

We're in Alaska and just kayaked by this guy.

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Monday, July 3, 2017

This bald eagle just swooped in. A beautiful symbol of our freedom. Happy Independence Day from Alaska!

Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Their trip to Alaska was part of Zuckerberg's "Year of Travel" challenge, through which he's planning to visit and meet people in every state by the end of the year.

Annie Zak

Annie Zak was a business reporter for the ADN between 2015 and 2019.

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