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Student Village Academy Forums TECH AND GADGETS Meta Faces Major Antitrust Trial: The Battle Over Instagram and WhatsApp Begins

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      More than a decade after Facebook acquired Instagram and WhatsApp, the company—now known as Meta—is facing a landmark antitrust trial that could change the future of social media as we know it. Beginning today, Meta will be in court to defend itself against allegations that it has built an illegal monopoly by acquiring and maintaining control over its two most successful platforms.

      Background: A Decade in the Making
      In the early 2010s, Facebook made two major acquisitions that would go on to shape the modern digital landscape: Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion, and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion. At the time, these deals were approved by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which now claims that those approvals were a mistake.

      Today, the FTC is essentially attempting to walk back its previous decision, arguing that these mergers stifled competition and gave Meta an unfair stronghold in the social networking space. The agency now wants Meta to divest—essentially, to be forced to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp to restore competitive balance in the industry.

      The Case at Hand
      The FTC’s central argument is that Meta’s dominance in the social media sector has been maintained not just through innovation but through strategic acquisitions that prevented competitors from gaining a foothold. By owning Instagram and WhatsApp, Meta has, according to the FTC, reduced the ability of new players to thrive and grow independently.

      Meta strongly disagrees. The company argues that the digital landscape has drastically evolved and that competition in the social media and messaging space is more intense than ever. Meta’s legal team points to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Snap, X (formerly Twitter), and even iMessage as evidence that the company operates in a highly competitive environment.

      Meta’s legal stance, in effect, is: “We’re not a monopoly. We’re just one player in a very noisy and crowded marketplace.”

      This high-stakes trial brings together some of the most influential figures in the tech world. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to play a central role, both as a symbolic face of the company and potentially as a witness. His previous interactions with government officials, including lobbying efforts during the Trump administration, could come under scrutiny.

      New FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has also made headlines by acknowledging that if former President Trump were to order the case dropped—and such an order was deemed lawful—he would comply. However, that remains an unlikely twist in what promises to be a long and closely-watched legal battle.

      Executives from rival companies, including TikTok, Google, Snap, and YouTube, are also expected to testify. Their perspectives could either support the idea that Meta has crushed competition—or reinforce Meta’s claim that strong competitors still exist and flourish.

      If the court rules against Meta, the implications could be enormous. Instagram alone is projected to account for nearly half of Meta’s U.S. advertising revenue this year. WhatsApp, though less monetized than Instagram, remains a critical channel for global communication and is increasingly viewed as a platform for commerce and AI integration.

      Losing either—or both—platforms would strike at the heart of Meta’s business model. Beyond advertising dollars, these platforms play a major role in Meta’s future plans, particularly when it comes to distributing its AI assistant and maintaining its influence in emerging tech ecosystems.

      Looking Ahead
      The outcome of this trial could become a watershed moment for antitrust enforcement in the digital age. It could also set a new precedent for how past mergers are viewed and potentially unwound.

      Regardless of the verdict, this case serves as a clear sign that the era of “hands-off” regulation in Big Tech may be coming to an end. With regulators increasingly willing to challenge tech giants—years after the deals have been done—the entire industry is watching closely.

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