Overview
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled the FTC failed to prove Meta currently holds monopoly power in social networking.
- The decision dismisses the agency’s request to force divestiture of Instagram and WhatsApp.
- Boasberg found that users treat TikTok and YouTube as substitutes for Facebook and Instagram, highlighting a shift toward video content.
- The opinion said the FTC offered no empirical evidence of consumer substitution away from Meta’s apps.
- The ruling follows a multi-year case that went to trial in April with testimony from Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Kevin Systrom.