Meta Wins Antitrust Battle: Judge Rejects FTC's Instagram & WhatsApp Breakup Demand

Meta just dodged a huge bullet. A federal judge ruled today that the social media giant is NOT an illegal monopoly, killing the FTC’s three-year push to force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.

What Happened

Judge James Boasberg sided with Meta, saying the company “holds no monopoly” in the social media space. The FTC had argued Meta bought IG and WhatsApp specifically to crush competition. But the judge wasn’t buying it.

Zuckerberg and other executives testified that Meta faces brutal competition from TikTok, YouTube, and others. The judge agreed—TikTok alone entered the market just seven years ago and is now Meta’s toughest competitor.

Why This Matters

A breakup would’ve been catastrophic for Meta. Instagram is basically a cash cow (advertising goldmine), and WhatsApp’s 2 billion users are pure leverage globally. Losing either would’ve decimated Meta’s business model.

Zuckerberg even admitted Facebook itself is becoming less relevant—though Meta’s ecosystem still hits 3.3 billion daily active users across all apps.

The Bigger Picture

Meta won this round, but Big Tech is still under fire:

• Google: Already found guilty in TWO antitrust cases (search + online ads)
• Apple & Amazon: Still battling separate antitrust lawsuits
• TikTok: Facing its own regulatory pressure globally

The FTC says it’s “disappointed” and weighing next steps—don’t be surprised if they appeal.

Stock reaction: Meta (META) trading at $587.34, down 1.73% today. Market likely priced in a win already.