Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg considered spinning off Instagram in 2018 due to mounting antitrust concerns, as revealed during his testimony in a trial against the Federal Trade Commission. In an email, he noted that separating Instagram and possibly WhatsApp could be necessary in light of potential regulatory actions. The FTC is seeking to dissolve these acquisitions, arguing that Meta monopolizes the social networking market.

Former COO Sheryl Sandberg testified in an antitrust trial against Meta, refuting claims that the company suppressed competition through acquisitions. The government has accused Meta of using a "buy-or-bury" strategy against rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp, while Mark Zuckerberg argued that significant competition still exists from platforms like TikTok and YouTube.