In the ongoing Meta anti-trust trial, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., appeared before a U.S. federal court on April 16, 2025, to defend the company's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accused Meta of acquiring these platforms to eliminate competition, ultimately monopolizing the social media space. Zuckerberg, however, strongly denied these claims, testifying that he did not purchase Instagram and WhatsApp with the intention of stifling competition.

Zuckerberg's testimony was part of the FTC's case against Meta, which seeks to break up the company, alleging that Meta's market dominance has led to a reduction in consumer satisfaction. The FTC's accusations center on the belief that Meta's strategic acquisitions were intended to solidify its hold over the social media market and prevent potential rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp from growing into threats.

In his testimony, Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta faced significant competition from global platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and even iMessage. He explained that his decisions to acquire Instagram and WhatsApp were based on the potential of these platforms, not the desire to eliminate future competition. "No," he responded firmly when asked whether his intent was to buy these companies solely to slow their development or neutralize them as threats.

The trial’s first day focused on Meta's competitors, with Zuckerberg pointing out the stiff global competition the company faces, particularly from Chinese-based ByteDance's TikTok and Google's YouTube. He mentioned that understanding the competitive landscape and innovating was a crucial part of his job as Meta’s CEO. "I need to push our teams to move quickly and understand what is going on in a very competitive market," Zuckerberg said.

On day two, Zuckerberg elaborated on Meta’s mission to allow people to connect with friends and family, stating that the company had always aimed to be a platform for discovering and learning about the world. By day three, he addressed concerns about Instagram’s rapid growth surpassing Facebook’s. He reiterated that emails expressing concern about Instagram's potential were part of a broader effort to understand emerging trends, not an attempt to stifle competition. He noted that similar concerns had been raised about other companies, not just Instagram.

Regarding WhatsApp, Zuckerberg denied any fear of its growth. He acknowledged that while he initially worried about its potential, he later realized that the app's owners did not share the same vision, and thus he acquired it for its utility and value rather than its competitive threat. "I thought the app was important and valuable," Zuckerberg stated.

The FTC's case, filed in 2020, accuses Meta of monopolizing the social media and communication markets, with Meta allegedly prioritizing profit over user satisfaction. The FTC seeks to break off WhatsApp and Instagram to foster a more competitive environment. The trial, overseen by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, is expected to last several weeks and will feature further testimonies from key figures, including Facebook's former COO Sheryl Sandberg and former CTO Mike Schroepfer, along with executives from rival platforms.

Meta's acquisition of Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $22 billion was pivotal in shifting Facebook's operations from desktop-based services to mobile and app-centric platforms. The trial could have far-reaching implications on Meta's business structure and its future in the social media industry.

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