South Africa, April 22 -- According to the FTC, Meta followed a "buy or bury" strategy - snapping up rising rivals before they could pose a real threat to its dominance. They point to internal communications, including emails from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which suggest that these deals were calculated moves to protect Meta's market share, not necessarily to improve the user experience.

Meta, however, claims otherwise. The company argues that the social media landscape remains competitive, with platforms like TikTok and YouTube providing strong alternatives. They also insist that the acquisitions have led to better functionality and greater privacy features for users - a win-win, in their view.

But here's the thing: this trial isn't just abo...