Background
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Meta seeking to force the company to divest from WhatsApp and Instagram. The case is heading to trial after a court ruled the FTC presented sufficient evidence to warrant a full hearing. Meta acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for approximately $19 billion and has integrated it into its family of apps.
Resolution Criteria
This market will resolve YES if:
Meta voluntarily sells or spins off WhatsApp into a separate company
Meta is forced by regulatory action to divest from WhatsApp
WhatsApp becomes a separate entity from Meta through any other means
The market will resolve NO if:
WhatsApp remains owned by Meta on January 1, 2028
Meta merges WhatsApp into another product while maintaining ownership
Considerations
Meta is actively fighting the FTC lawsuit and argues the acquisitions have benefited consumers
The company faces competition from other messaging and social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat
Even if the FTC wins its case, appeals could extend the timeline for any forced divestment
Meta has shown no indication of plans to voluntarily divest from WhatsApp
WhatsApp is increasingly important to Meta's business strategy and messaging focus