Meta has been facing difficulties recently, as the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is bringing an antitrust case against the company, alleging that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp have enabled it to dominate the social media market and establish a monopoly. If these claims are proven true, Meta may be forced to divest from both WhatsApp and Instagram.

Meta Might Lose WhatsApp and Instagram

This situation is not new for Meta. Back in 2020, the FTC initially filed a lawsuit claiming that Meta hindered competition by acquiring rivals and acting as a monopoly. However, the case was dismissed in 2021 due to procedural errors in the initial filing.

Despite the dismissal, the FTC did not give up on its pursuit. With stronger evidence and findings, the FTC resubmitted its case, this time seemingly with a more serious approach. Reports indicate that Judge James Boasberg has accepted the new filing and largely rejected Meta’s request to dismiss the case.

In its defense, Meta argues that its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp have benefited consumers and fostered innovation. According to the company, these acquisitions were reviewed and approved by the FTC in the past.

Christopher Sgro, a Meta representative, stated that the company faces competition from other major social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Apple’s iMessage, refuting the monopoly claims. While information on the case remains limited, if the FTC’s claims are upheld, Meta could face challenging days ahead, with the potential loss of WhatsApp and Instagram looming on the horizon.

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