Lesson made on April 15, 2025
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Reading Lesson:
Mark Zuckerberg, the boss of Meta (the company that owns Facebook), had to speak in court during a very important trial. The US government says Meta might have broken the law by buying Instagram and WhatsApp to stop other companies from competing. These two apps were small when Facebook bought them over 10 years ago, but now they are super popular.
The government’s lawyers say that Meta didn’t want to compete fairly. Instead, they say Meta bought Instagram and WhatsApp because the company was worried about losing its top spot in social media.
Instagram was bought for $1 billion in 2012. WhatsApp was bought in 2014 for even more–$22 billion! These apps helped Facebook stay popular, especially with younger people, and made it easier for the company to switch from desktop computers to mobile phones.
The government wants Meta to give up control of these apps, which could hurt the company’s money-making business. Meta says the case is unfair. They believe Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook have lots of competition, like TikTok, YouTube, and Apple’s iMessage. Meta also says that the government already approved these deals years ago, so it’s wrong to go back now and try to undo them.
The judge will decide if Meta has to split up and separate the apps into different companies. This trial is important because it could change the way big tech companies grow and how the government controls them. Other companies like Google and Amazon are also facing similar cases.
Comprehension Quiz:
Speaking and Writing Activities:
– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.
– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.
1. Do you think big companies like Meta should be allowed to buy smaller companies like Instagram and WhatsApp? Why or why not?
2. Do you use Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, or other social media apps? Which one do you like best, and why?
3. Do you trust big tech companies to use your personal data responsibly? Why or why not?
More Reading Practice:
History of Facebook
Facebook started in 2004. It was created by a college student named Mark Zuckerberg. When Zuckerberg created Facebook, some other students at Harvard said he had agreed to help them build a different social networking site called HarvardConnection (later called ConnectU). They claimed that Mark stole their idea and used it to make Facebook instead. They sued Zuckerberg and reached a legal settlement. Facebook paid them millions of dollars, and they agreed to stop the lawsuit.
Facebook quickly became very popular all over the world. As more people joined, Facebook grew into a big company. It started to buy other apps, like Instagram and WhatsApp. These apps also became very popular, especially with younger people and users on mobile phones.
Over time, Facebook became more than just a social media website. It started to make money from ads and collect data to show users ads they might like. This made Facebook one of the richest and most powerful tech companies in the world.
Even though many people use Facebook every day, the company has had some problems. Some people are worried about privacy, the way Facebook uses personal information, and how it affects news, politics, and mental health. Governments in different countries have started to look more closely at Facebook’s power and business choices.
Today, Facebook is part of a larger company called Meta. Meta also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and other projects related to virtual reality.
WhatsApp started in 2009. Two men named Jan Koum and Brian Acton created it. They used to work at Yahoo, a big internet company. They wanted to make a simple app that would let people send messages to each other without paying for text messages. At first, WhatsApp only let people write short status messages. Later, it let people send messages to friends and family using the internet. This was cheaper and easier than texting.
WhatsApp became popular very quickly. People liked that it was simple, fast, and had no ads. It also worked on many different phones. Soon, millions of people around the world started using it every day to stay in touch.
Today, WhatsApp is one of the most used apps in the world. People use it to send text messages, make phone and video calls, and share photos and videos. It is especially popular in countries where phone calls and texts are expensive. Even though it is now owned by Meta (the company that owns Facebook), many people still trust WhatsApp because it keeps their messages private.
Instagram started in 2010. It was made by two men named Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. They wanted to create an easy way for people to share photos from their phones. The app quickly became popular because it let people take pictures, add filters, and share them with friends.
In just two years, Instagram grew very fast. Many people around the world started using it. After Facebook bought Instagram, the app continued to grow. New features were added, like short videos, private messages, and Stories. These changes helped Instagram stay interesting and popular, especially with younger people.
Over the years, Instagram became more than just a photo app. People started using it to follow celebrities, find news, and even grow their businesses. Today, Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. Many companies and influencers use it to reach their audiences, and millions of people use it every day to stay connected and share their lives.
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