By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Zuckerberg Considered Instagram Spinoff in 2018 Amid Antitrust Concerns, Court Documents Reveal
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
News

Zuckerberg Considered Instagram Spinoff in 2018 Amid Antitrust Concerns, Court Documents Reveal

Genesis Obong
By Genesis Obong
Published: April 16, 2025
Share
4 Min Read
Meta antitrust trial
SHARE

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg considered spinning off Instagram in 2018 due to growing antitrust concerns, according to court documents revealed during his testimony in a high-stakes federal trial on Tuesday.

“I wonder if we should consider the extreme step of spinning Instagram out as a separate company,” Zuckerberg wrote in a memo displayed during his second day of testimony in Washington. The revelation came as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) pursues its case to unwind Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

In the memo, Zuckerberg acknowledged that consolidating Meta’s apps would likely yield “strong business growth” but cautioned it could simultaneously erode Facebook’s value and potentially trigger regulatory action.

“As calls to break up big tech companies grow, there is a non-trivial chance that we will be forced to spin out Instagram and perhaps WhatsApp in the next 5-10 years anyway,” Zuckerberg wrote, specifically noting concerns about potential action from “the next Democratic president.”

- Advertisement -

Meta ultimately kept Instagram and proceeded with plans to integrate its portfolio of applications, but the memo provides striking evidence of how seriously Zuckerberg viewed the antitrust threat that has now materialized.

“Buy or Bury” Strategy Under Scrutiny

During testimony, Zuckerberg made another potentially damaging admission when questioned about Meta’s acquisition strategy.

“We were doing a build vs. buy analysis” regarding a camera app, Zuckerberg testified. “I thought that Instagram was better at that, so I thought it was better to buy them.”

- Advertisement -

This statement appears to support the FTC’s allegations that Meta employed a “buy or bury” approach to eliminate potential competitors. The case follows years after earlier revelations of Zuckerberg’s 2008 email stating “it is better to buy than compete.”

Read Also: Meta Faces High-Stakes Antitrust Trial, Instagram Divestiture Looms

The Meta CEO also acknowledged the company’s struggles with developing successful applications internally. “Building a new app is hard and many more times than not when we have tried to build a new app, it hasn’t gotten a lot of traction,” he testified, adding, “We probably tried building dozens of apps over the history of the company and the majority of them don’t go anywhere.”

Meta’s Defense and Market Definition

Meta’s legal team maintains that Zuckerberg’s past intentions aren’t relevant to the case, arguing the FTC has incorrectly defined the social media market and failed to account for significant competition from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Apple’s messaging services.

The FTC contends Meta holds a monopoly on platforms where users share content with friends and family, with only minimal competition from Snapchat and smaller players like MeWe. According to the FTC’s argument, platforms where users broadcast content to strangers based on shared interests such as X, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit represent distinct market segments.

This case represents a critical test of antitrust enforcement against technology giants as regulatory scrutiny of Big Tech continues to intensify across administrations.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:FTC lawsuitInstagram spinoffMARK ZUCKERBERGMeta acquisitionssocial media competitiontech monopoly
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByGenesis Obong
Follow:
Genesis Obong is a Journalist with relevant experience in Business, Finance and Economic matters in Nigeria and across the West African space.
Previous Article Many Feared Dead as Suspected Herders Renew Deadly Attacks in Benue Community
Next Article Unilorin Student Breaks Guinness World Record for Longest Mathematics Lesson

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 3 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Dangote Names Main Refinery Access Road “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road” in Honor of President
News
L-R: Ify Okoye, Digital Creator; Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Actress; Stella Erebor, Head Internal Audit, Nigerian Communications Commission; Emanuella Samuel, Comedienne/Actress, Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET), Meta, and Nicole Chikwe, founder of The Mummy Summit, during the launch of Instagram teen accounts in Lagos on Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Meta Launches Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria to Enhance Online Safety for Young Users
Tech
President Tinubu and Top Officials Attend Eid-el-Kabir Prayers in Lagos, Emphasize Peace and Progress
News
Elon Musk’s Net Worth Plummets $34 Billion Amid Explosive Feud with Donald Trump
International
BREAKING: Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umo Eno Defects from PDP to APC in Strategic Political Shift
Politics Top stories
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

NewsTop stories

BREAKING: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, Passes Away at 89

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
International

Russia Launches Deadly Drone and Missile Strikes Across Ukraine Following Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Bomber Fleet

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
Top stories

MTN Nigeria Doubles ICT Industry Average with 41.4% Female Workforce Representation

Muhammad A. Aliyu
Muhammad A. Aliyu
June 6, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?