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Despite this bone-headed move by Twitter, my question is: does this pose anti-trust problems for Meta? Meta having a monopoly on all forms of social media does
by Dig1t 3y ago
Despite this bone-headed move by Twitter, my question is: does this pose anti-trust problems for Meta?
Meta having a monopoly on all forms of social media does seem pretty bad to me.
I guess “monopoly” has a specific definition, but by having Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and the new Twitter, one company will control the majority of normal peoples’ communication online.
- optymizer 3y agoIs Meta preventing any other entities from releasing their own Twitter? Nobody's forcing people to use Threads.
- Dig1t 3y agoThat's a good question, the answer to your question is "no". However you can apply the exact same logic to Apple. Is Apple's App Store preventing users from just using an Android phone? Or just launching their own competitor to the iPhone? The answer to that question is also "no". However, there is a lot of discussion around whether Apple is behaving in an anti-competitive way. Same with Google in the online advertising market. Given the other ant-trust discussions taking place, I don't think it's ridiculous to ask whether Meta controlling _all_ the platforms on which most communications happen is good for society.
- dvngnt_ 3y agoit's a bit tougher to compare as IG/threads and Twitter are just websites and phone apps whereas iPhone is the phone and app store that gates access to native applications so it's a level deeper and can be seen more as a utility.
- paxys 3y agoNot in the US, which has long abandoned the pretense of antitrust enforcement, but this is exactly why they haven't launched threads in the EU.
- cmrdporcupine 3y agoThat's not true. It was not launched in the EU because of privacy laws / data sharing between Instagram and the new product, etc.
- DonsDiscountGas 3y agoIt seems like it should (imho), but according to current law I doubt it. We haven't really updated that for network effects. Unless they start abusing their monopoly in an anti-competitive way (eg requiring advertisers to not advertise on other social networks, just Meta) I think they're fine legally.
- asadotzler 3y agoThe bundling is enough, IMO. Meta's dominant position in social with FB/Insta/Whatsapp/etc. is indisputable, count the users, and leveraging those products (primarily IG accounts) is bundling and could be literally torn apart by the DOJ if only they had the balls they did two decades ago.
- ksherlock 3y agoNo more than usual... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission_v._Meta_Platforms,_Inc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission_v._Me.... There is an outstanding FTC lawsuit against FB (No I'm not going to call them Meta) which would undo the Instagram and What's App acquisitions. If that were to be successful (it was dismissed once) I suppose Instagram+Threads would be a separate company. BUT ... the FTC recently lost a case that would have blocked FB from acquiring a VR company (Within) because "Meta could have chosen to try to compete. Instead, it chose to buy". That is, not building their own VR fitness division is anti-competitive. FTC chair Lisa Khan has a raging hard-on for Zuck but it would be hilarious if they also try to block FB for being competitive.
- kalleboo 3y agoI wonder if their promise of ActivityPub federation is their version of 1997 Microsoft keeping Apple alive