Meta defended its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp in a legal challenge, asserting that the FTC provided insufficient evidence linking user content sharing to increased ad exposure. The company emphasized the enhancements and resources it provided to Instagram, arguing it transformed a struggling platform into a thriving service. Meta contested claims that these acquisitions hindered competition, insisting that evidence showed both Instagram and WhatsApp maintained their original missions without intentions to pivot towards social media features.
Meta argued that the FTC lacked evidence that users sharing content led to more ads, stating, "we only show more ads to users who click ads."
Meta claimed that without its resources, Instagram may have perished, pointing to co-founder Kevin Systrom's statement on the app's pre-acquisition state being "pretty broken and duct-taped" together.
Meta dismissed allegations of ill-intent regarding Instagram's acquisition, asserting that its actions resulted in a consumer-welfare bonanza, stating, "what matters is what Meta did."
Regarding WhatsApp, Meta highlighted the founders' intentions to maintain a simple product, denying that they aimed to pivot to social media.
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