Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta, just dropped a bombshell that nobody saw yet. He has made a surprising statement: “Social media, as we knew it, is over.” According to him, the way we use apps like Facebook and Instagram has changed completely—and the future of online life looks very different.

According to The New Yorker, During a major court case last week, Zuckerberg spent over 10 hours explaining how Facebook and Instagram have completely changed. In a candid moment that shocked the courtroom. he admitted:

He admitted: “We’re now involved in the general idea of entertainment and learning about the world and discovering what’s going on,” Zuckerberg testified, essentially confirming that Meta has moved away from its original mission of connecting friends by social media. 

The Transformation From Social to Media

In the early days of Facebook, people used it to connect with friends, share life updates, and post personal photos. It felt like a digital version of hanging out. You might see that a friend was in a new relationship or had thrown a party. But now, Zuckerberg admits that things have shifted. Facebook and Instagram have become more like TV channels or entertainment platforms.

Instead of seeing posts from friends, people are now watching videos from influencers, celebrities, and AI-generated content. Meta even showed data during a recent trial: on Facebook, the time people spend viewing posts from friends dropped from 22% to 17% in two years. On Instagram, it fell from 11% to 7%.

“People use our platforms now to be entertained and learn what’s happening in the world,” Zuckerberg said during his 10 hours of testimony in an ongoing antitrust trial.

What Is the FTC’s Problem with Mark Zuckerberg?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is accusing Meta of unfair business practices. They say Meta has a monopoly. It means, they are dominating the social media market so much that it hurts competition. The FTC is suing Meta, claiming the company illegally destroyed competition by buying up rivals like Instagram (2012) and WhatsApp (2014).

 The FTC says Meta controls the “personal social networking services” market, but that term is hard to define today. Social media is no longer just about connecting with friends—it’s about content, entertainment, and messaging. That’s Meta’s main argument: social media isn’t what it used to be, so it’s wrong to say they control it.

“Meta defense it brilliantly. As one of their lawyers argued in court: Social media as defined by the FTC simply doesn’t exist in the way it did in the 2010s. The market has fundamentally changed.”

Meta also showed examples of how their platforms are similar to rivals like TikTok, YouTube, and even Apple iMessage. They all offer short videos, messages, and similar features. Meta argues that it’s part of a large, competitive space where no single company rules everything.

So, Is Meta a Monopoly?

This isn’t the first time the FTC has gone after Meta. The same case was thrown out in 2021 because the market definition was unclear. Now, even though the case is back in court, many experts say it’s still difficult to prove that Meta is harming users—especially since its apps are free to use.

In another antitrust case against Google, the court found that Google harmed customers by controlling advertising prices. But with Meta, there’s no clear “damage” to users. People aren’t paying money to use Facebook or Instagram, so proving harm is more complex .

Industry experts are reading between the lines. As one tech analyst put it: “Zuckerberg just admitted they’re becoming an entertainment company that happens to have some social features, not a social company with entertainment features.” This could mean:

• Even less content from people you actually know.
• More AI-generated posts and videos.
• Apps that feel more like TV channels than social networks.
• New ways to find and connect with friends outside traditional social media.

What’s about the Future of Social Media?

Zuckerberg’s statement reflects a major truth: social media is no longer just “social.” It’s about consuming digital content, videos, and entertainment. The platforms that once helped us stay connected now feel more like streaming apps.

And while Meta fights legal battles to defend its past actions, it’s also trying to define the future. Whether that’s through AI, virtual reality, or new content formats, one thing is clear: the age of posting selfies and friend updates is fading. Something much bigger—and possibly more impersonal—is taking its place.

Whether that’s good or bad depends on what you’re looking for. But one thing is clear: the age of truly social media is over, and the age of algorithm-driven entertainment has begun.

The question now is: what will replace it when we want to actually connect with the people we care about? As one social media researcher warned: “We’re losing the digital spaces where genuine human connection happens. The question is: do we even want them back?”

Stay updated with the latest AI and tech releted news at brandexposer.com