Meta Wins FTC Fight, Keeps Instagram Growth Machine Intact

Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms has successfully navigated a significant legal challenge from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which posed a potential existential threat to the company by targeting its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp [2][5]. Group 1: Legal Outcome - The FTC lawsuit claimed that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp constituted anti-competitive practices, which could have forced the company to divest these critical platforms [3][5]. - The trial began on April 14, 2025, and the outcome was crucial for Meta's future, as losing the case would have had devastating implications for its social media empire [3][5]. Group 2: Importance of Instagram and WhatsApp - Instagram is projected to account for over 50% of Meta's U.S. advertising revenue by 2025, a significant increase from around 7% a decade ago [4]. - Instagram is estimated to generate nearly $250 per user in 2025, which is approximately 90% higher than TikTok and more than six times that of YouTube [4]. - WhatsApp currently generates around $2 billion in revenue but has a total addressable market estimated between $30 billion to $40 billion annually, indicating substantial growth potential [6].