America — Meta Platforms Inc. headed to court on Monday in a major antitrust trial that could force the company to separate from Instagram and WhatsApp, two platforms it bought over a decade ago and transformed into global social media giants.
Meta defended its actions, saying Instagram and WhatsApp face fierce competition from TikTok, YouTube, iMessage, and others.
It accuses the FTC of trying to rewrite history by challenging deals approved over 10 years ago and argues the lawsuit sends a message that no acquisition is ever truly final.
Meta said the FTC’s lawsuit “defies reality.”
However, the FTC has a narrow definition of Meta’s competitive market, excluding companies like TikTok, YouTube, and Apple’s messaging service from being considered rivals to Instagram and WhatsApp.
The trial will be decided by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who has expressed scepticism about the FTC’s narrow market definition but allowed the case to proceed.
The impact could be massive if Meta loses and is forced to spin off Instagram. Instagram is Meta’s most significant ad revenue driver in the U.S., accounting for over 50% of its earnings in 2025
Makinde oyinkansola| April 14, 2025.
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