How TikTok Helped Meta Secure a Key Antitrust Victory
By David McCabe and Steve Lohr, The New York Times | November 18, 2025
For years, Meta—owner of social media giants Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp—has found itself in a heated rivalry with TikTok, the app that revolutionized social media with its endless stream of short, vertical videos, captivating younger audiences worldwide. This rivalry has also played out in courtrooms, where Meta faced a significant antitrust lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
On Tuesday, a federal judge issued a landmark ruling in favor of Meta, concluding that the company did not unlawfully suppress competition when it purchased these now-major platforms as fledgling start-ups. Crucially, the judge’s decision recognized the rise of competitive forces such as TikTok and YouTube, highlighting that Meta no longer holds a monopoly in the social media space.
A Changing Social Media Landscape
Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia noted in his opinion that “the landscape that existed only five years ago when the Federal Trade Commission brought this antitrust suit has changed markedly.” The growth and popularity of new apps like TikTok serve as evidence that consumers today have multiple robust platforms to choose from, undermining the FTC’s argument that Meta exercised monopoly power.
For years, Meta has replicated TikTok’s core features, integrating short video formats and algorithm-driven feeds into Instagram and Facebook to maintain relevance and retain users. The judge’s ruling implicitly acknowledged that the competitive pressure from TikTok and other emerging platforms keeps the market dynamic and challenges claims that Meta dominates unfairly.
Tech Industry’s Response to Government Regulation
Meta’s victory is part of a broader trend in which technology companies leverage rapid innovation and shifting market conditions to resist regulatory efforts. Silicon Valley has increasingly argued that the fast pace of technological change—exemplified by social media newcomers and advances in artificial intelligence (A.I.)—renders heavy-handed government regulation unnecessary or even harmful.
Illustrating this dynamic, Google recently persuaded a federal judge that only modest adjustments are needed to address its dominance in search. The company highlighted emerging competition shaped by A.I., arguing that drastic measures such as forced business breakups could damage smaller businesses that depend on its ad services.
Implications for Antitrust Enforcement
Legal experts and industry observers say these market shifts make it increasingly difficult for antitrust regulators to win long, drawn-out cases that could span years. The rapid evolution of technology means that by the time a trial concludes, the competitive landscape may have transformed significantly, potentially invalidating the original claims of monopoly or market harm.
Meta’s recent court victory signals a challenging environment for regulators seeking to rein in major tech companies. The case underscores the crucial role that new entrants like TikTok play in maintaining competition and emphasizes how innovation continues to redefine market boundaries in unpredictable ways.
As regulators and courts grapple with these complexities, the ongoing tension between technological innovation and regulatory oversight promises to shape the future of the digital economy for years to come.
