BUSINESS
Why Did Facebook Buy Instagram?
Washington DC, USATue Apr 15 2025
Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently faced tough questions in a courtroom. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is trying to prove that Facebook is a monopoly. They claim that Facebook bought Instagram to get rid of a competitor.
The FTC showed emails from 2012. In these emails, Zuckerberg talked about buying Instagram. He said that Instagram was growing fast. He also said that Facebook's own photo app, Facebook Camera, was not doing well. Zuckerberg thought that buying Instagram could help Facebook stay ahead in the mobile world.
The FTC's lawyer asked Zuckerberg about these emails. He wanted to know if Facebook planned to keep Instagram the same and not add new features. Zuckerberg said that he might have thought about it at first. But he also said that Facebook did add many new features to Instagram over the years.
The FTC also talked about how Facebook has changed over the years. They said that Facebook started as a way to connect with friends and family. But now, people use it to discover news and other things. Zuckerberg agreed with this. He said that Facebook has become more about discovery.
The FTC also showed an email from 2022. In this email, Zuckerberg talked about a "crazy idea" to wipe out everyone's friend connections. He wanted to make users start over. The FTC used this to show that friend connections are still important to Facebook.
Zuckerberg said that he is not sure what the message is today. He said that Facebook probably tested different messages for new users. The FTC used this to show that friend connections are still important to Facebook.
The FTC's case is not over yet. They still have to prove that Facebook is a monopoly. They also have to prove that Facebook bought Instagram to get rid of a competitor. Zuckerberg's testimony is just one part of the case. The FTC will have to present more evidence to support their claims.
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questions
Is there any evidence to suggest that the FTC's antitrust trial is a cover-up for a deeper conspiracy involving Facebook's influence?
How does the FTC's focus on Facebook's monopoly over friend connections overlook the broader landscape of social media competition?
Could the acquisition of Instagram have been part of a larger plan to consolidate power and control over user data?
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