TikTok… and Now IG? Zuckerberg’s Empire at Risk

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faces a pivotal challenge to his digital empire as the Federal Trade Commission’s landmark antitrust case against the social media giant begins today in Washington, D.C. The high-stakes trial could potentially force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, acquisitions that have become central to the company’s business model and revenue stream.

The case, initially filed during President Trump’s first term in 2020, alleges Meta illegally acquired these platforms to eliminate competition and maintain a monopoly in personal social networking services. With billions of dollars and the future shape of social media hanging in the balance, both sides are preparing for a lengthy legal battle that could reshape the technology landscape.

Trending World News Headlines:

The Smoking Gun: Zuckerberg’s Own Words

Central to the FTC’s case are Zuckerberg’s own communications, including a damning 2008 email where he wrote “It is better to buy than compete,” and a 2012 memo describing the $1 billion Instagram acquisition as a means to “neutralize a potential competitor,” according to The Independent.

These internal documents could prove crucial as regulators attempt to demonstrate that Meta’s acquisitions were explicitly designed to eliminate competition rather than to improve services or expand capabilities. Both Zuckerberg and former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg are expected to testify during the trial.

“He said it’s better to buy than to compete. It’s hard to get more literal than that,” notes Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a professor of antitrust at Vanderbilt Law School, as reported by BBC.

🚨 BREAKING: Mark Zuckerberg could be forced to sell Instagram in landmark antitrust trial. pic.twitter.com/81xeqfSTkN
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) April 14, 2025

David vs. Goliath: Defining the Marketplace

One of the central disputes in the case revolves around how the relevant marketplace should be defined. The FTC argues that Meta holds a monopoly specifically in “personal social networking services” – a category that includes Snapchat but notably excludes YouTube and TikTok, which the commission views as content consumption platforms rather than social networks.

Meta vigorously contests this narrow definition. “The evidence at trial will show what every 17-year-old in the world knows: Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp compete with Chinese-owned TikTok, YouTube, X, iMessage and many others,” Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro stated in court filings.

According to the FTC’s market definition, Facebook commanded over 80 percent of users’ time within this space from 2012 to 2020, potentially meeting the legal threshold for monopoly power, as outlined by Wired.

Political Intrigue Behind the Scenes

The case unfolds against a backdrop of shifting political dynamics between Zuckerberg and President Trump. Following a previously contentious relationship that included Trump’s ban from Meta’s platforms after January 6, 2021, recent months have seen apparent attempts at reconciliation.

Reports indicate Zuckerberg has lobbied Trump personally to have the FTC drop the case, though these efforts appear unsuccessful so far. Meta has also made several moves viewed as olive branches to the administration, including appointing Trump ally Dana White to its board of directors and contributing $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.

Despite these overtures, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson has publicly stated, “We don’t intend to take our foot off the gas,” suggesting the commission remains committed to pursuing the case regardless of potential political pressure.

The Long Road Ahead

Legal experts caution that the resolution of this case could take years. The initial trial phase alone is expected to last up to 37 days, potentially concluding in early July. If Meta is found liable, a separate trial to determine remedies would follow, likely in 2026.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who is presiding over the trial, has previously shown some skepticism toward the government’s arguments. He rejected an initial version of the suit in 2021 and has written that some of the FTC’s positions “at times strain this country’s creaking antitrust precedents to their limits.”

Nevertheless, he has allowed the case to proceed to trial, giving the FTC the opportunity to prove its claims in court. If successful, this would represent the first major corporate breakup of the Big Tech era and one of the most significant antitrust actions in decades.

As the trial unfolds in the coming weeks, tech industry observers, investors, and social media users will be watching closely to see whether Zuckerberg’s digital empire will remain intact or face an unprecedented forced dismantling that could fundamentally alter the social media landscape.

Trending World News Headlines: