Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly explored the idea of separating Instagram from its parent company, Meta Platforms, as part of internal discussions addressing mounting antitrust scrutiny and potential conflicts of interest with Facebook.
According to a 2018 internal document revealed during Zuckerberg’s testimony in an ongoing US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust trial, the Meta chief evaluated the strategic advantages of making Instagram an independent entity.
The document indicated that this move was considered a way to achieve important organizational goals, especially as regulatory pressure on Big Tech intensified.
The idea stemmed from concerns that large technology companies might eventually be forced to break up due to growing legal and political demands.
Zuckerberg’s analysis suggested that synergy between platforms was often overestimated, while the strategic costs of maintaining a single corporate structure could outweigh the benefits.
Meta, which also owns WhatsApp, has long faced criticism for consolidating power in the social media industry. The FTC has accused the company of stifling competition by acquiring potential rivals, including Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.
During his testimony, Zuckerberg clarified that the discussions reflected a broader effort to evaluate potential risks related to regulatory developments, rather than a concrete plan for divestment.
The case against Meta is part of a wider push by U.S. authorities to rein in the influence of tech giants. Since 2020, federal agencies have launched a series of antitrust lawsuits targeting dominant firms. The Department of Justice has filed cases against Google in both 2020 and 2023, and against Apple in 2024. The FTC also initiated legal action against Amazon in 2023.
These developments signal a dramatic shift in how the U.S. government views market dominance in the tech sector, increasing the likelihood of structural changes, including potential breakups of major firms.
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