Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg took center stage in a Washington courtroom on Monday, vehemently defending his company’s controversial acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. U.S. antitrust regulators claim that Meta’s billion-dollar purchases of the two platforms were strategic moves to eliminate competition and solidify its grip on social media. If the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) succeeds, Meta could be forced to sell these high-profile acquisitions, which could drastically reshape the company’s future.
The trial represents more than just a legal challenge for Meta—it’s a test of the U.S. government’s resolve to hold Big Tech accountable under the pressure of mounting political scrutiny. Zuckerberg, dressed in a dark suit and light blue tie, faced pointed questions about his company’s dominance and the long-term impact of acquiring Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.
Addressing the court, Zuckerberg denied any wrongdoing, arguing that Meta’s purchase of these platforms was meant to enhance user experience and wasn’t aimed at quashing competitors. He emphasized that, at the time, Facebook was simply trying to evolve alongside shifting social media trends, rather than shutting down emerging threats.
“We misunderstood how social engagement online was evolving,” Zuckerberg admitted, referencing Facebook’s struggle to adapt to a growing preference for private, message-based sharing over public posts. As he explained, Meta had failed to foresee that users would move away from sharing life updates on public feeds and instead embrace private messaging—a trend that platforms like WhatsApp capitalized on.
Central to the FTC’s case are internal emails where Zuckerberg expressed concerns that Instagram and WhatsApp posed growing threats to Facebook’s market share. However, Meta counters that these acquisitions, far from being anti-competitive, have actually benefited users by offering them new ways to connect and interact.
Competition with other social media giants like TikTok is also a key aspect of the case. Meta points to the surge in traffic to Instagram and Facebook during TikTok’s temporary shutdown in the U.S. earlier this year as evidence of direct competition in the social media market. The FTC, however, maintains that Meta dominates platforms designed for personal connections with friends and family, where its chief competitors are smaller apps like Snapchat and MeWe.
At stake is not just Meta’s market position but its financial future. Instagram alone accounts for over half of Meta’s U.S. ad revenue, with projections indicating it will generate $37.13 billion this year. A forced sale of Instagram could have devastating consequences for Meta’s earnings, although WhatsApp, while a key player in daily user engagement, currently contributes less to the company’s bottom line.
This trial is a pivotal moment in the broader effort to address the immense power of Big Tech companies. It comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on tech giants, a stance that continues under the current administration. The outcome could reshape the social media landscape, setting a precedent for future antitrust actions in the industry.
As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Meta can convince the court that its acquisitions were simply part of the natural evolution of a rapidly changing digital world. The trial is expected to last until July, with the fate of Meta’s most prized assets hanging in the balance.
