During the ongoing Meta monopoly trial, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has attempted to redefine social media as a broader concept that includes sharing content via private messages. This shift comes as Meta faces scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its alleged monopolistic practices in personal social networking. The FTC argues that Meta has cornered the market by acquiring competitors and leveraging network effects to lock in users who primarily use its platforms to connect with friends and family.
Zuckerberg testified that the FTC’s market definition overlooks current realities, as people are increasingly using apps like TikTok as discovery engines rather than solely for connecting with friends. He noted a decline in friend-to-friend sharing on Facebook and admitted that Meta’s growth has slowed significantly due to TikTok’s rise. To remain competitive, Meta introduced features such as Reels and TikTok Shop-like functionality, aiming to replicate TikTok’s success.
While Meta positions TikTok as its biggest competitor, evidence suggests that TikTok users may not fully substitute Instagram or Facebook during outages. Sensor Tower data indicates only a modest increase in daily active users and downloads for Meta platforms during a recent TikTok outage. This raises questions about whether TikTok and Meta platforms serve the same purpose for users.
Legal experts, including Kenneth Dintzer, highlight that redefining social media to include all forms of content sharing might not persuade the court. Zuckerberg’s attempt to broaden the definition could imply that texting and messaging are also forms of social media, which may not align with traditional use cases like posting on Facebook for friends and family.
Meta’s recent initiatives, such as the “blend” feature on Instagram, emphasize reconnecting users with friends and family, potentially reinforcing its core use case and network effects. This strategy could invite further scrutiny, suggesting Meta still benefits from its alleged monopoly in personal social networking.
— new from Ars Technica