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The disproportionate amount of impact this one hit wonder had on civilization is astonishing.

HDThoreaun 1y ago
Mark owns 3 of the most popular apps in existence. Hard to call him a one hit wonder even if his other hits were just recognizing which companies to buy
- oofManBang 1y ago
  True. He hasn't actually built anything since the very first days.
- CPLX 1y ago
  The other hits came from breaking laws against anti-competitive behavior by his company, which is the exact subject of the trial this article is based on.
- knorker 1y ago
  Buying WhatsApp was about having the money and not being obviously blocked by courts. Not exactly galaxy brain to decide to buy a lottery ticket that's already declared the winning one. And not like they ruined it, I mean integrated/synergized it.
  - HDThoreaun 1y ago
    lots of people had money. Only mark bought whatsapp
    - fullshark 1y ago
      It was a defensive acquisition most likely and the app has pretty much not changed functionally one bit from when he acquired it. He had no vision for it clearly.
    - knorker 1y ago
      I'm getting a bit of reddit vibes in that you only took part of what I said out of context, and ignored the rest. But also yes it was very much a defensive acquisition, and my point about them not (yet) ruining it shows that there was no plan. Buying another company from the spoils of your first hit doesn't make you not a one hit wonder. Especially since most of your bidding competitors would have been blocked by antitrust. I don't know if the same is true for Instagram. I've never used it.
- admissionsguy 1y ago
  > recognizing which companies to buy I bet it's really simple from the vantage point of being the owner of the biggest social app with billions to spare.
- trooperscoop 1y ago
  “Recognizing which companies to buy” is your argument? That’s how low the bar is: money = smart. Buying your competitor for crazy high prices while paying even more to avoid antitrust laws is kinda the tech bro playbook.

Mark owns 3 of the most popular apps in existence. Hard to call him a one hit wonder even if his other hits were just recognizing which companies to buy

oofManBang 1y ago
True. He hasn't actually built anything since the very first days.
CPLX 1y ago
The other hits came from breaking laws against anti-competitive behavior by his company, which is the exact subject of the trial this article is based on.
knorker 1y ago
Buying WhatsApp was about having the money and not being obviously blocked by courts. Not exactly galaxy brain to decide to buy a lottery ticket that's already declared the winning one. And not like they ruined it, I mean integrated/synergized it.
- HDThoreaun 1y ago
  lots of people had money. Only mark bought whatsapp
  - fullshark 1y ago
    It was a defensive acquisition most likely and the app has pretty much not changed functionally one bit from when he acquired it. He had no vision for it clearly.
  - knorker 1y ago
    I'm getting a bit of reddit vibes in that you only took part of what I said out of context, and ignored the rest. But also yes it was very much a defensive acquisition, and my point about them not (yet) ruining it shows that there was no plan. Buying another company from the spoils of your first hit doesn't make you not a one hit wonder. Especially since most of your bidding competitors would have been blocked by antitrust. I don't know if the same is true for Instagram. I've never used it.
admissionsguy 1y ago
> recognizing which companies to buy I bet it's really simple from the vantage point of being the owner of the biggest social app with billions to spare.
trooperscoop 1y ago
“Recognizing which companies to buy” is your argument? That’s how low the bar is: money = smart. Buying your competitor for crazy high prices while paying even more to avoid antitrust laws is kinda the tech bro playbook.