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FTC and Meta Clash Over TikTok, X, Reddit in Social Networking Market Definition Amid Antitrust Trial

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Updated May 1, 2025, 05:42 PM

The Federal Trade Commission's antitrust trial against Meta has focused heavily on defining the social networking market and determining whether platforms such as TikTok, X, and Reddit compete directly with Meta. Meta's defense argues that social media has evolved since the early 2010s and that its core business is no longer centered on traditional friend-based sharing but rather on creating artificial social interactions. Meta's Chief Operating Officer, Alex Olivan, testified repudiating a 2020 statement that an app without friends would be "useless." Evidence presented by the defense showed that TikTok viewed Facebook as a competitor in the short-form video segment. However, a TikTok executive testified that TikTok sees Facebook and Instagram as complements rather than direct competitors, supporting the FTC's position that Meta maintains a monopoly in personal social networking services. The trial also revisited issues related to the proposed TikTok ban, which remains a point of contention in the case. Executives from major social media companies have appeared in federal court as part of the proceedings.

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#Federal Trade Commission #Meta #TikTok #Reddit #Alex Olivan #Facebook #Instagram #FTC

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Sources

library.thecapitolforum.com(2)law360.com newyorker.com theverge.com

Law360

@Law360

A TikTok executive said his company views Facebook and Instagram as "complements" to the platform rather than direct competitors, in testimony that largely supported the FTC's claim that Meta dominates personal social networking services. https://t.co/l1weCyHxrh https://t.co/fUR2n77gz4

Jason Kint

@jason_kint

Not alleging anything specific here. Just thinking about the challenge of being the corporate witness for Meta in a FTC trial to break up the company. I don’t envy Alex Schultz! @joel_kaplan @andymstone https://t.co/IN3uFEHlfF

The Capitol Forum

@Capitol_Forum

FTC v. Meta: TikTok Saw Facebook as Competitor in Short-Form Video, Defense's Evidence Shows $META https://t.co/FPzqz5fVmP h/t @ColeCahill & @jbliss1987