Zuckerberg challenged this definition in court, downplaying friend-based sharing on Meta’s apps and describing Facebook and Instagram as primarily “discovery and entertainment” platforms today.
He cited a failed 2018 push to prioritize posts from real-life connections as evidence that user preferences have shifted.
Meta’s legal team argued the tech firm competes in a much broader digital ecosystem that includes other major platforms. Lead attorney Mark Hansen dismissed the FTC’s claims as “at war with the facts and at war with the law.”
Even if the FTC prevails, it must still convince the court that breaking up Meta would enhance competition. The case, overseen by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, could last up to two months.
If the agency succeeds, Meta could be forced to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.