Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp during a high-profile antitrust trial in Washington, D.C., pushing back against U.S. government claims that these deals were meant to squash competition.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) argues that Meta’s purchases of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were strategic moves to maintain its dominance in social media by eliminating potential rivals. The agency is seeking a court order that could force Meta to sell one or both platforms, which would significantly reshape the tech giant’s business.
Zuckerberg testified that the acquisitions were part of Meta’s efforts to adapt to changing social media trends, not to stifle competition. He acknowledged that user behavior shifted over time, with people sharing less publicly on Facebook and more privately through messages, a change Meta initially misunderstood.
The FTC pointed to internal emails suggesting Meta saw Instagram and WhatsApp as threats that needed to be neutralized. However, Meta counters that the social media landscape has evolved, with new competitors like TikTok, YouTube, and Apple’s messaging app offering strong alternatives.
The trial also highlights the challenge regulators face in defining the relevant market. The FTC focuses on platforms where users share content with friends and family, such as Snapchat and MeWe, while Meta argues that broader platforms like TikTok compete directly for users’ attention.
If the FTC prevails, forcing Meta to divest Instagram or WhatsApp could have major financial consequences. Instagram is a core part of Meta’s advertising revenue, and WhatsApp holds the company’s largest daily user base, playing a key role in future business messaging and monetization plans.
This case is part of a wider push by U.S. regulators to hold Big Tech accountable for anti-competitive practices, a movement that has gained momentum over recent years. The trial is expected to continue through July, with a final decision that could reshape the social media industry.
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