Zuckerberg feared monopoly scrutiny and mulled Instagram split, files show (www.theguardian.com)
from cm0002@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world on 16 Apr 14:19
https://lemmy.world/post/28303820

Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg considered spinning off Instagram in 2018 in anticipation of a potential antitrust suit, documents unveiled at a trial in Washington showed on Tuesday.

​​“While most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they’ve been split up,” he wrote in an email at the time. He said there was a “there is a non-trivial chance” his company would be forced to spin Instagram and WhatsApp out anyway.

Zuckerberg made another key concession during the US trial on Tuesday, saying he bought Instagram because it had a “better” camera than the one Facebook was trying to build for its flagship app at the time. In the email, he said Instagram was a “rapidly growing, threatening, network”.

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cookedslug@lemm.ee on 16 Apr 15:14 next collapse

Yet another reason why Zuck & other oligarchs pushed for 47

sunzu2@thebrainbin.org on 16 Apr 16:43 collapse

They all own plebs big mag and they are always one step ahead of the group think

wirebeads@lemmy.ca on 16 Apr 16:16 next collapse

Another oligarch I wish would see the under side of dirt.

primemagnus@lemmy.ca on 16 Apr 19:42 collapse

While most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they’ve been split up

That’s a stat he made up in his head btw. Completely baseless claim.

nave@lemmy.ca on 17 Apr 00:54 collapse

Actually, he is correct. The Ma Bell breakup in the 80s is a good example of this. The newer, smaller companies grew much faster than the original.

MrAlternateTape@lemm.ee on 17 Apr 15:11 collapse

It actually makes sense. I’ve seen big and small companies. Small companies are focused, flexible and people usually have a connection with the company.

At bigger companies, everything goes slow. And nobody gives a shot about anything. They do what they need to do in order to get paid, but not a step more. Everything is slow because at least 2 layers of management need to sign off on decisions.