Does Meta have a social media monopoly? Here’s what the US has argued

For five weeks, the Federal Trade Commission has questioned 30 witnesses as it has tried to prove that Meta illegally monopolized social networking through killer acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

On Thursday, the government wrapped up its side in the case — Federal Trade Commission v. Meta Platforms — setting the stage for the social media giant formerly known as Facebook to mount its defense.

During the first half of the trial in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, the government grilled Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s chief…