# Meta’s Antitrust Trial: The Bombshell Revelations You Need to Know
Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is in the fight of its corporate life. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) long-awaited antitrust trial against the company is now underway—and it’s already exposing jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes details about Meta’s aggressive business tactics.
At the heart of the case? The FTC claims Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were anti-competitive moves designed to crush rivals rather than foster innovation. Meanwhile, Meta insists these platforms only became global powerhouses because of its investment.
But as the trial unfolds, explosive testimonies from former executives—including Instagram’s co-founder and Sheryl Sandberg—are painting a very different picture. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
## Instagram’s Founder Says Zuckerberg Saw It as a Threat
One of the most damning revelations came from Kevin Systrom, Instagram’s co-founder and former CEO. While Zuckerberg testified that Meta helped Instagram flourish, Systrom dropped a bombshell: Zuckerberg viewed Instagram as a direct competitor and deliberately limited its resources.
> “As the founder of Facebook, he felt a lot of emotion around which one was better, meaning Instagram or Facebook,” Systrom testified.
This directly contradicts Meta’s argument that the acquisition was purely about growth—not eliminating competition.
## Sheryl Sandberg Thought Instagram Was a Bad Deal (At First)
Back in 2012, when Facebook paid $1 billion for Instagram—a company with zero revenue and just 13 employees—many thought Zuckerberg had lost his mind. Turns out, even his right-hand woman, Sheryl Sandberg, had doubts.
Internal emails revealed Sandberg bluntly told Zuckerberg the price was “way too much.” But under oath, she admitted she was wrong:
> “I don’t think anyone today would say we paid too much for Instagram.”
Given Instagram’s current valuation in the hundreds of billions, she’s not wrong—but the FTC argues that’s exactly the problem.
## Zuckerberg Predicted This Lawsuit Years Ago
In a stunning 2018 email, Zuckerberg foretold Meta’s current legal nightmare. He speculated that regulators might force Meta to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp within a decade.
> “I’m beginning to wonder whether spinning Instagram out is the only structure that will accomplish a number of important goals.”
Now, six years later, that prediction is playing out in court.
## Desperate Moves: Zuckerberg Considered Drastic Facebook Changes
As TikTok surged in popularity, internal discussions revealed Zuckerberg was willing to take extreme measures to keep users engaged. One wild idea? Deleting users’ friend lists to force more algorithmic content consumption—a move that could have fundamentally altered Facebook’s core experience.
While this never happened, it highlights the lengths Meta was willing to go to maintain dominance.
## What Happens Next?
The trial is expected to drag on for weeks, with more revelations likely to emerge. If the FTC wins, Meta could be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp—a seismic shift for the social media landscape.
For now, one thing is clear: Meta’s future hangs in the balance. Will it survive intact, or will regulators dismantle Zuckerberg’s empire? Stay tuned.