Meta Uses Apple's Messages App to Counter Antitrust Claims in High-Stakes Legal Battle

In a high-profile legal case, Meta is defending itself against antitrust claims by the FTC, aiming to demonstrate that it is not a monopoly. As part of its defense, Meta has compared Apple’s Messages app with its own social platforms (Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp) on iOS devices. According to the data presented in Meta's opening statement slides, Apple’s Messages app has a significantly higher usage rate (88.39% device use) compared to Meta’s services (48.19%, 37.55%, and 36.76% respectively). This comparison is used to challenge the FTC's distinction between 'Messaging' and 'Personal Social Networking,' arguing that since Apple's Messages app is more popular, Meta cannot hold a monopoly in the social networking space. Additionally, Meta highlights competition from other platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.