Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Meta is back in court—this time, not over data, but dominance.
The Meta Antitrust Trial kicked off on April 14 in Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission accusing the tech giant of crushing competition by buying out Instagram and WhatsApp. If the FTC wins, Meta could be forced to break up. If Meta wins, it could mark a major setback for Big Tech regulation.
This trial could reshape the future of social media, digital advertising, and antitrust enforcement in the U.S.
Takeaway: A breakup of Meta is now a real possibility—and the trial has only just begun.
The Case Against Meta
The FTC claims Meta’s playbook wasn’t about competing—it was about acquiring threats before they grew. The agency argues that the company’s purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp were part of a deliberate plan to dominate the personal social networking space.
Zuckerberg’s own words from internal emails—like “it is better to buy than compete”—are now front and center in the Meta Antitrust Trial.
The FTC says Meta’s dominance has weakened privacy protections, reduced innovation, and flooded platforms with more ads.
Takeaway: The government’s core argument? Meta didn’t just grow—it rigged the market in its favor.
Meta’s Defense
Meta argues the FTC is ignoring reality. It says the market is broader than the FTC claims—and that competition is alive and well, with TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat eating into everyone’s screen time.
In the Meta Antitrust Trial, Meta also emphasizes that its acquisitions were fully approved by regulators at the time. Zuckerberg claims the deals strengthened, not weakened, user experience—and helped products like Instagram thrive.
Their message: market share alone doesn’t equal monopoly.
Takeaway: Meta says this case punishes success and rewrites the rules after the fact.
Why This Trial Matters
The outcome of the Meta Antitrust Trial could change how the U.S. approaches digital monopolies. A ruling against Meta would send a strong message: past approvals don’t shield companies from future accountability.
But if Meta wins, it could discourage regulators from challenging tech giants going forward—cementing the power of a handful of dominant platforms.
Takeaway: This trial is about more than just Meta—it’s about the future of antitrust in the digital age.
