Why Meta Chose to Buy Rather Than Build

In a revealing testimony during an antitrust trial, Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that the acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp was motivated by the challenges of developing comparable technology in-house.

Instagram's edge: Zuckerberg highlighted Instagram's "better camera" and more advanced features as key factors in the decision to purchase the platform, rather than competing against it.

Internal Struggles and External Acquisitions

Meta's attempts to innovate independently often fell short, leading to a strategy of acquiring potential competitors. This approach has drawn scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which questions the impact on market competition.

Zuckerberg's admission sheds light on the tech giant's reliance on acquisitions to maintain its dominance in the social media landscape.