- विज्ञापन -
Washington: A major anti-trust trial has begun in Washington, and its outcome could change the future of social media. the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is challenging Meta, the parent company of Facebook, accusing it of stifling competition by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp. If the FTC wins, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg may be forced to sell both platforms, potentially breaking up the tech giant’s powerful ecosystem.
FTC claims Meta bought rivals to stop Competition
The FTC argues that Meta acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, not to improve services but to eliminate competition. The agency claims these buyouts helped Meta establish a monopoly in the social networking space.Legal experts say Zuckerberg’s past statements – like saying it’s “better to buy than compete” – may be used as evidence of Meta’s intent.
Meta says it helps Instagram to grow
Meta has rejected the FTC’s claims, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg arguing that the digital landscape has evolved dramatically over the past decade. The company points to TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat as strong competitors, and insists its acquisitions have improved user experiences across platforms.
“We acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to help them grow and deliver better services — not to kill competition,” Zuckerberg said at a recent tech conference.
Meta warns that a forced breakup would hurt innovation, user safety, and the broader digital ecosystem.
Meta plans to fight back with argue, that these acquisitions actually benefited users. The company will likely present evidence showing that Instagram grew into the platform it is today because of Meta’s resources. Meta says it is confident about winning the case and criticised the FTC’s decision to reopen already-approved deals.
Politics could play a big role in the Trial
This case was started in Trump’s first term, now he is in office again, and things could get more political. Reports suggest Zuckerberg personally lobbied Trump to have the case dropped. The firing of two Democratic FTC commissioners by Trump has also raised concerns about political interference in independent agencies.
It won’t be easy for the FTC to win
Experts says that FTC has tough road ahead. Compared to Google’s dominance in online search, Meta’s case may be harder to prove due to stronger competition from Tik Tok, YouTube, and others. Still, if the FTC succeeds, it could lead to one of the biggest tech breakups in history.
What’s Next?
The trial is expected to run for several weeks, with both Zuckerberg and former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg set to testify. The outcome could reshape the industry and determine whether one of the world’s most powerful companies has to give up two of its biggest platforms.
