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Meta Asks Judge to Dismiss FTC Antitrust Case, Says Agency Failed to Prove Monopoly

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Meta Platforms (META.O) on Thursday urged a federal judge to dismiss the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) high-profile antitrust lawsuit, arguing that the agency has failed to prove its case that Meta illegally maintains a social media monopoly through acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

The motion comes mid-trial, which began on April 14 in Washington D.C., as the FTC seeks to unwind Meta’s acquisitions of the two platforms—deals that occurred more than a decade ago.

Meta’s Legal Argument:

  • Meta asked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to rule on the evidence so far, potentially ending the case early.

  • The company claimed the FTC:

    • Failed to demonstrate that WhatsApp was a social media threat at the time of acquisition.

    • Could not prove that Meta acquired Instagram to quash competition rather than foster its growth.

    • Offered a flawed market definition, ignoring platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit, which Meta says are all part of the same competition for user attention.

“Each [app] vies to show the most compelling user-generated content… to take as much user time and attention as possible,” Meta argued.

FTC’s Case So Far:

  • The FTC claims Meta used acquisitions to eliminate emerging threats, citing internal emails showing CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing concern over Instagram and WhatsApp’s growth.

  • The agency distinguishes platforms based on “friends-and-family” sharing, arguing that Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat occupy a unique category not interchangeable with TikTok or YouTube, which focus on interest-based broadcasting to strangers.

What’s Next:

  • Judge Boasberg can:

    • Grant Meta’s motion, ending the trial early, or

    • Decline, allowing the case to proceed with closing briefs and arguments.

  • If the judge later rules that Meta does hold an illegal monopoly, a second trial will follow to determine remedies, potentially including divestitures.

This case is one of the most consequential antitrust actions in the modern tech era, testing the power of regulators to challenge long-past mergers based on evolving market dynamics.

Pinterest Shares Soar 11% as Strong Ad Spend, AI Strategy Offset Tariff Uncertainty

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Pinterest (PINS) surged more than 11% on Friday, adding nearly $2 billion to its market capitalization, as investors welcomed a stronger-than-expected revenue forecast that defied broader concerns about advertising pullbacks amid geopolitical and trade volatility.

The visual discovery platform joins Reddit and Meta in delivering upbeat revenue figures for the quarter, at a time when U.S. trade policy shifts and rising global tensions have cast doubt over the marketing budgets of many digital firms.

Despite these headwinds, Pinterest’s AI-powered ad tools and expanding Gen Z user base are proving to be effective growth levers. Analysts praised the platform’s focus on delivering personalized and performance-driven ads, boosting advertiser confidence.

“AI is helping to serve up the right type of ads for different audience segments,” said Dan Coatsworth of AJ Bell. “There’s a greater propensity to click when the ad feels relevant.”

Key Metrics:

  • Global Monthly Active Users (MAUs): Up 10% YoY to 570 million, beating LSEG analyst estimates.

  • Forward P/E Ratio: Pinterest trades at 14.51x, more attractive compared to Reddit (67.65x) and Snap (22.19x).

While Asian e-commerce advertisers such as Temu and Shein pulled back spending due to the rollback of the “de minimis” import exemption, Pinterest’s international diversification and AI enhancements helped mitigate the impact.

“Pinterest’s strategic focus on AI improvements and international expansion is yielding results,” said Angelo Zino, senior equity analyst at CFRA.

Still, Barclays analysts cautioned that e-commerce ad trends could worsen later in the year if tariffs begin to directly hit consumer spending. Yet for now, Pinterest is outpacing competitors in converting ad impressions into meaningful business performance.

Pinterest’s stock performance and relatively modest valuation suggest it may be one of the more resilient digital ad plays as global marketing strategies adapt to economic uncertainty.

Pinterest Lifts Revenue Forecast as AI Ad Tools and Gen Z Engagement Drive Growth

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Pinterest (PINS) raised its second-quarter revenue outlook on Thursday, citing strong advertiser demand fueled by AI-powered tools and continued engagement from its growing Gen Z user base. The upbeat forecast pushed shares up 16% in after-hours trading, signaling renewed investor confidence despite macroeconomic uncertainty.

The company expects Q2 revenue between $960 million and $980 million, beating analysts’ average forecast of $966.3 million, according to LSEG data. First-quarter revenue came in at $855 million, surpassing expectations of $846.6 million, though adjusted earnings per share of 23 cents missed the consensus estimate of 26 cents.

Pinterest’s strength lies in its “Performance+” automation and AI features, which help advertisers create more targeted, personalized campaigns. This, combined with Pinterest’s focus on direct response ads — such as those driving shopping or app downloads — has positioned the platform as a reliable marketing channel, even amid tightening ad budgets.

Key Growth Drivers:

  • Gen Z users are the platform’s fastest-growing and most engaged demographic.

  • Global monthly active users grew 10% year-over-year, reaching 570 million — well above the expected 564 million.

  • Pinterest is expanding ad partnerships with third parties like Magnite, adding to existing deals with Google and Amazon to aggregate demand from smaller advertisers.

Finance chief Julia Donnelly acknowledged that broader economic pressures — including the end of the U.S. “de minimis” import exemption and ongoing trade tensions — have impacted some advertisers, especially Asia-based e-commerce firms. However, she noted that many of those advertisers are shifting focus to European and other international audiences on Pinterest.

Compared to rivals, Pinterest is faring well. While Meta and Reddit also reported strong Q1 revenues, Snap declined to provide guidance due to market volatility, highlighting Pinterest’s relative resilience.

eMarketer’s Jeremy Goldman summed up the performance, saying,

“The results show Pinterest can sustain momentum without the holiday tailwind.”

As Pinterest sharpens its ad-tech offering and diversifies its advertiser base, the platform appears well-positioned to navigate market headwinds and tap into new growth regions.