Mark Zuckerberg Admits Facebook No Longer Connects Family And Friends, Faces FTC Lawsuit That Could Dismantle Meta

Mark Zuckerberg is once again in the spotlight but not for a bold innovation or a flashy acquisition. This time, the Meta CEO finds himself defending his company in court against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The accusation? Engaging in so-called “killer acquisitions” buying rival platforms to eliminate them as threats. At the center of this high-stakes trial are two of Meta’s most lucrative and influential assets: Instagram and WhatsApp. If the FTC gets its way, Zuckerberg could be forced to undo the very deals that helped cement Facebook’s transformation into a global digital titan.

The trial, which officially opened on April 14, has pulled back the curtain on how Meta built its empire. The FTC alleges that Meta’s purchase of Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014 wasn’t about investment or innovation it was about removing competition before it could pose a serious threat. During the proceedings, internal emails were presented in which Zuckerberg referred to Instagram as a “terrifying threat” that needed to be neutralized “at all costs.”

Prosecutors also unearthed Zuckerberg’s rejected $6 billion offer for Snap in 2013, painting a picture of a tech mogul on a mission to dominate, not just compete. From the FTC’s perspective, Meta’s strategy was clear: buy out or push out any rivals that stood in its way.

Zuckerberg, who personally took the stand, framed the acquisitions in a very different light. He claimed that Instagram and WhatsApp might not have survived on their own without Meta’s support. In his view, Meta didn’t kill the competition it gave them new life, integrating them into an ecosystem that now serves billions. “We didn’t destroy them, we made them bigger,” he argued.

However, his candid admission about Facebook’s evolution added fuel to the debate. He noted that the platform no longer serves its original purpose of connecting family and friends. Instead, it has become a hub for viral content, algorithms, and trend discovery. In Zuckerberg’s own words, Facebook has shifted from social sharing to algorithm-driven content consumption.

Meta’s legal team insists the company is not a monopoly. They point to competitors like TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter) as proof that users have alternatives. Meta also underscores the fact that all acquisitions were approved by regulators when they occurred. Changing the rules years later, they argue, would be unjust and destabilizing for the entire tech industry.

Still, the numbers are hard to ignore. WhatsApp and Instagram alone account for more than half of Meta’s ad revenue and serve over 2 billion users a reach that makes Meta’s dominance hard to deny.

This is no ordinary trial. It’s a pivotal moment that could reshape the future of digital business and antitrust law. The trial is expected to continue until July 2025, with even tougher legal battles to follow if the FTC wins this round.