Could Meta Be Forced To Sell Instagram And WhatsApp? What Investors Should Know

Meta Platforms’ (META) antitrust trial kicks off this week, the place it’ll defend itself in opposition to allegations from the U.S. Federal Commerce Fee that it illegally bought Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014, respectively. The FTC argues the corporate needs to be compelled to divest the 2 apps. 

Meta executives together with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg are anticipated to testify throughout the trial, which can possible final a number of weeks. Leaders from social media rivals comparable to TikTok, Snap (SNAP) and YouTube are additionally anticipated to testify.

A last resolution may nonetheless be years away, in keeping with analysts, however the trial will probably be carefully watched by tech buyers and will result in Meta having to promote Instagram and WhatsApp, regardless that the offers had been permitted by regulators on the time they had been made.

Right here’s what buyers ought to know concerning the Meta antitrust trial. 

Meta Platforms’ antitrust trial: What’s at stake

The FTC’s antitrust case in opposition to Meta is about to go to trial on April 14. Right here’s what’s at stake:

• The FTC is suing Meta, alleging that the corporate’s acquisitions of then-new rivals Instagram and WhatsApp greater than a decade in the past maintained Meta’s monopoly within the “private social networking companies” market. 
• Although the acquisitions had been permitted by regulators on the time, the FTC argues that Meta needs to be compelled to divest the 2 apps to revive competitors to the market.
• Meta is anticipated to argue that it faces competitors from corporations effectively past these recognized by the FTC, together with TikTok, X, YouTube and LinkedIn. 
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been lobbying President Donald Trump and White Home officers to settle the case, in keeping with The Wall Avenue Journal. 

A key facet of the case facilities round how the marketplace for social media is outlined. The FTC argues that Meta faces solely two rivals: Snap and the MeWe app. However Meta will argue that its record of rivals is for much longer.

“The FTC’s case ignores how the market really works and chases a idea that doesn’t maintain up in the actual world,” Meta Chief Authorized Officer Jennifer Newstead wrote in a weblog put up earlier than the trial began. “The proof at trial will present what each 17-year-old on this planet is aware of: Instagram competes with TikTok (and YouTube and X and plenty of different apps).”

FTC vs. Meta Platforms: Potential outcomes

The trial itself is anticipated to final for weeks and a last decision will not be identified till 2027, in keeping with Financial institution of America analyst Justin Put up. Listed here are just a few potential outcomes for a way the trial may play out, in keeping with Put up.

1. The decide guidelines in Meta’s favor and the corporate is allowed to proceed proudly owning Instagram and WhatsApp with out restrictions.
2. The decide guidelines in favor of the FTC, however imposes behavioral cures as a substitute of requiring Meta to divest the 2 apps. Constraints on Meta may embody data-sharing restrictions, operational firewalls or being compelled to share knowledge with rivals. This consequence may sluggish innovation and stress Meta’s margins, Put up says.
3. The decide guidelines in favor of the FTC and requires Meta to divest Instagram, WhatsApp or each. 

The corporate would possible attraction any ruling in favor of the FTC, in keeping with Put up. 

Meta bought Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014. Instagram has helped Meta keep related with younger individuals and generated over $50 billion in promoting income in 2024, in keeping with Financial institution of America estimates. 

WhatsApp performs a key function in Meta’s worldwide development, as it’s the fundamental messaging platform in key rising markets. The app has greater than 2 billion world customers.