Will Meta Really Have to Sell Instagram and WhatsApp?

wired.comPublished: 4/16/2025

Summary

The US Federal Trade Commission is taking on Meta in a high-stakes trial over its acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing that these platforms were bought to suppress competition. The FTC claims Meta illegally acquired these assets to maintain a monopoly on personal social networking services, harming consumers and advertisers by reducing competition and privacy. Mark Zuckerberg testified in defense, as the case hinges on whether Facebook truly dominates this market. At stake is not just the future of Instagram and WhatsApp but also Meta's ability to keep its most valuable properties.