Zuckerberg denies Meta bought rivals to conquer them

Core Argument - Mark Zuckerberg denied in court that Meta acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate competition, asserting that the purchases were based on their unique features and potential for growth [3][4][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Intent - Zuckerberg stated that Instagram was appealing for its camera and photo-sharing capabilities, but he did not see it as a direct competitor to Facebook [5]. - Regarding WhatsApp, Zuckerberg described its founders as "unambitious" and emphasized that he aimed to enhance the app's capabilities after the acquisition [5]. Group 2: Market Competition - Meta has faced increasing competition from various rivals, including Google, and has had to adapt to a rapidly evolving digital landscape [6]. - Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Meta, highlighted that users have numerous choices for their online engagement, intensifying competition for attention [7]. Group 3: Regulatory Context - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) argues that Meta holds a dominant position in the social networking market, while Meta's defense emphasizes the significant investments made to develop Instagram and WhatsApp into leading platforms [9]. - The case was initiated in December 2020, during the final days of the Trump administration, indicating a politically charged environment surrounding the antitrust issues [9]. Group 4: Competitive Threats - Zuckerberg identified TikTok as a major competitive threat, noting that it has surpassed both Facebook and Instagram in user engagement [11]. - In response to TikTok's popularity, Meta introduced a Reels feature to compete in the short video content space [11].