Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has asserted that Facebook has evolved beyond a mere platform for connecting friends and family, as he defended the company’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp against antitrust allegations by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The high-stakes trial, which could potentially force Meta to divest its subsidiaries (Instagram and WhatsApp), saw the Meta CEO navigating intense questioning about the company’s strategic moves to solidify its dominance in the social media landscape.
Zuckerberg says Facebook’s core focus is messaging
During the testimony, the FTC questioned Zuckerberg about Facebook's transformation from a primarily friend-centric platform to one driven by third-party content, citing the introduction of features like the news feed and groups.
Zuckerberg acknowledged the platform's evolution, stating, “It’s the case that over time, the ‘interest’ part of that has gotten built out more than the ‘friend’ part.”
“(Users are) connected to a lot more groups and other kinds of things. The ‘friend’ part has gone down quite a bit, but it’s still something we care about,” he said, as per CNN.
Zuckerberg emphasised, however, that connecting with friends remains a core focus. A significant portion of the testimony focused on the integrated messaging features across Meta's platforms, with Zuckerberg asserting that messaging is “symbiotic” to the company's broader offerings, enabling users to share content seamlessly.
Why FTC has sued Meta and what can be a possible outcome
Zuckerberg's testimony, expected to span two days, centers on explaining Meta’s rationale for acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp, acquisitions that the FTC argues were designed to eliminate potential competition. The FTC contends that Meta's vast user base, boasting 3.3 billion daily users across its platforms, is not a testament to market success but rather a reflection of limited consumer choice.
The agency argues that users lack viable alternatives to Meta's ecosystem, enabling the company to amass over $160 billion in advertising revenue last year. The crux of the FTC's argument lies in the assertion that Meta strategically acquired nascent competitors to stifle innovation and prevent future challenges.
Meta, however, counters that it operates within a highly competitive social media environment and that the acquisitions were approved by regulators years ago.
A victory for the FTC could force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, fundamentally altering its business model.
Zuckerberg says Facebook’s core focus is messaging
During the testimony, the FTC questioned Zuckerberg about Facebook's transformation from a primarily friend-centric platform to one driven by third-party content, citing the introduction of features like the news feed and groups.
Zuckerberg acknowledged the platform's evolution, stating, “It’s the case that over time, the ‘interest’ part of that has gotten built out more than the ‘friend’ part.”
“(Users are) connected to a lot more groups and other kinds of things. The ‘friend’ part has gone down quite a bit, but it’s still something we care about,” he said, as per CNN.
Zuckerberg emphasised, however, that connecting with friends remains a core focus. A significant portion of the testimony focused on the integrated messaging features across Meta's platforms, with Zuckerberg asserting that messaging is “symbiotic” to the company's broader offerings, enabling users to share content seamlessly.
Why FTC has sued Meta and what can be a possible outcome
Zuckerberg's testimony, expected to span two days, centers on explaining Meta’s rationale for acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp, acquisitions that the FTC argues were designed to eliminate potential competition. The FTC contends that Meta's vast user base, boasting 3.3 billion daily users across its platforms, is not a testament to market success but rather a reflection of limited consumer choice.
The agency argues that users lack viable alternatives to Meta's ecosystem, enabling the company to amass over $160 billion in advertising revenue last year. The crux of the FTC's argument lies in the assertion that Meta strategically acquired nascent competitors to stifle innovation and prevent future challenges.
Meta, however, counters that it operates within a highly competitive social media environment and that the acquisitions were approved by regulators years ago.
A victory for the FTC could force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, fundamentally altering its business model.
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