(TJV NEWS) Meta, the parent company of Facebook, could be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp as a result of a legal battle in the U.S. The company, owned by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. An antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. government now claims that Meta made these acquisitions to eliminate competition and establish a social media monopoly.

Although the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved both deals at the time, the agency has continued to monitor their impact. If the government wins the case, it could compel Meta to divest both Instagram and WhatsApp, potentially reshaping the social media landscape. Experts believe this could trigger significant changes, with Mike Proulx, a research director at Forrester, suggesting that the trial’s outcome, combined with TikTok’s uncertain future, could lead to a “new social media world order.”

Proulx noted that Meta, while still centered around Facebook, might struggle to maintain its dominant position without Instagram and WhatsApp. He argued that Facebook’s attempt to regain relevance has been overshadowed by Instagram, which has become Meta’s social media “safety net.” He also questioned whether Meta could thrive without Instagram and WhatsApp, particularly with its nascent metaverse and Threads platform still uncertain.

The trial is set to begin in Washington, D.C. on Monday and is expected to last for several weeks. Meta’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and former COO Sheryl Sandberg are expected to testify.

Meta isn’t the only tech giant facing scrutiny over potential monopolistic practices. Google is also at risk of being forced to sell its Chrome web browser and dismantle its search empire. Following a judge’s ruling last summer that Google holds a monopoly in online search, the U.S. Department of Justice has called for remedies, including the sale of Chrome, to address the company’s dominance.