When Instagram was acquired for $1 billion in 2012, co-founder Kevin Systrom believed that joining Facebook would help Instagram’s “skyrocketing growth” reach even greater heights.

In an internal email surfaced as part of the Meta antitrust trial, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg fretted about the potential that the company’s Instagram acquisition may cannibalize Facebook. Were that to happen,

Mark Zuckerberg foresaw potential regulatory challenges, including a possible breakup of Facebook, now Meta. Despite this, he expressed optimism, suggesting that companies often thrive post-split due to reduced 'strategy tax,