Meta wins antitrust case over acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp

Judge rules changes user behaviour ensure social networking giant does not have a monopoly

Trade

Image: Shutterstock via Denis Publishing

20 November 2025

A US federal judge has ruled that Meta does not hold a monopoly in the social networking market. The decision dismisses an antitrust complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC claimed that Meta’s acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram allowed the company to unfairly dominate the market.

However, Judge James Boasberg disagreed, stating that the FTC had not proven its claims. He pointed out that other social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok exist as competitors, meaning that Meta cannot establish a monopoly. Even if YouTube were excluded, the presence of TikTok alone would be sufficient to undermine the FTC’s argument.

The judge’s ruling concludes that Meta does not hold a monopoly and rules in the company’s favour. The FTC originally filed the lawsuit in 2020, arguing that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014 illegally consolidated power within the social media landscape. In addition to Facebook and Threads, these platforms are also owned by Meta.