Overview
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg entered judgment for Meta after a multiweek bench trial, finding the FTC failed to prove Meta currently holds monopoly power in personal social networking.
- The opinion determined consumers treat TikTok and YouTube as substitutes for Facebook and Instagram, reflecting a market that has moved toward short-form, AI-driven video.
- Because the agency did not carry its burden, the court denied the requested divestitures, keeping Instagram and WhatsApp within Meta.
- High-profile testimony from Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom helped build the record, but historical “buy or bury” evidence did not outweigh present-day competition.
- The FTC has the option to appeal, and the ruling marks a setback for the government’s wider antitrust campaign against Big Tech.