In a landmark antitrust case, the US government is examining whether Mark Zuckerberg quashed competition when acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014. The trial revisits a bygone era of social media, where apps like Facebook, Path, Orkut, and Google Plus once dominated the market. Executives from Meta, including former CEO Sheryl Sandberg and Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom, have testified about their companies’ early struggles and decisions that led to the demise of rival social networks. The trial highlights how Meta’s dominance has evolved over time, shifting from a focus on connecting with friends and family to a platform centered around media consumption.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/technology/meta-trial-silicon-valley-social-apps.html