Meta’s world has faced significant challenges, as Mark Zuckerberg’s company could be coerced into selling WhatsApp and Instagram if the lawsuit that has just begun in the U.S is lost. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now accuses Zuckerberg’s company of having purchased both platforms to completely wipe out competition and maintain a monopoly on social media.
Instagram was acquired by Mark Zuckerberg in 2012 and then, years later, completed his trio by buying WhatsApp. At the time, these acquisitions were approved by the FTC itself, but currently this lawsuit seeks to reverse that approval, arguing that the purchase was not for innovation but to “neutralize” rising competitions like Instagram was in 2012 and thus take control of the entire market.
Everything is based on the emails from 2012 where Zuckerberg expressed concern about Instagram’s rapid growth compared to Facebook’s performance (his only app at the time). In those emails, Zuckerberg admits it was better to buy than to compete. And so he did, acquiring the app years later.
On the other hand, he also bought WhatsApp, and of course that reinforces the FTC’s accusation. Meta strengthened its control over the digital system, keeping these apps as separate platforms but under the same power structure.
Meta does not deny buying these social media handles, but refuse to accept having acted in an anti-competitive way, calling the case a “weak lawsuit that ignores reality,” since they believe they face strong competition from platforms like TikTok, YouTube or X among many other apps.
During the trial, Zuckerberg maintained he bought Instagram for its camera technology, not because the social network was on the rise, but the 2012 messages don’t seem to support that statement very well.
If the FTC wins the case, Meta could be coerced into selling WhatsApp, Instagram or both. This wouldn’t necessarily mean an immediate change for users, but it would shift the balance in the digital market, according to experts like digital sociologist Steven Buckley.