Mark Zuckerberg’s internal emails, presented as evidence at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antimonopoly trial against Meta, have exposed deep concerns within the company regarding Facebook’s declining cultural relevance. The communications reveal an internal struggle to reinvent the platform and address its perceived obsolescence.

The Admission: A Rapid Decline

in April 2022, Zuckerberg admitted to Facebook director Tom Alison that although participation in the application is stable, its cultural relevance decreases rapidly. This stark assessment highlights the internal crisis plaguing the social network once considered a pioneer.

Key Problems Identified

Zuckerberg pinpointed three critical issues contributing to Facebook’s decline:

• Obsolete Friend Circles: The existing network of friends has become less relevant to users.
• Excessive Friendship Model: The conventional friendship model appears “excessive” compared to the follower-based systems on other platforms.
• Limited Community Impact: communities within Facebook are not achieving the desired level of engagement and influence.

The Question of Relevance

zuckerberg questioned the essential value proposition of Facebook,asking,Do you want them to see you by adding friends on Facebook or Instagram? He even considered drastic measures,such as erasing all existing friend connections to revitalize the system. The CEO confessed that he personally follows his interests, such as surfing or fighting, on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), rather than on Facebook.

Reels and the Social Component

Despite prioritizing Reels, the short-form video format copied from TikTok, Zuckerberg acknowledged a significant drawback: Although Reels – the format copied from Tiktok – received priority resources, Zuckerberg admitted that he loses the social component by showing content outside the contact network. This highlights the challenge of balancing content finding with meaningful social interaction.

Alison’s Blunt Assessment

Tom Alison offered an even more critical perspective, stating, Facebook lacks a relevant public content ecosystem; is dominated by means and advertisers. This suggests that Facebook’s content landscape is overly commercialized and lacks authentic, user-generated content.

Internal Competition with Instagram

The internal rivalry with Instagram,a key asset in the FTC’s antimonopoly case,exacerbates Facebook’s challenges. Zuckerberg warned, We cannot let a service collect the leftovers of the other, recognizing Instagram’s superior cultural relevance. This underscores the tension between the two platforms and the struggle to maintain distinct identities.

The FTC’s Argument reinforced

These internal communications, which included the Instagram management team, not only reveal the ongoing effort to reinvent Facebook but also bolster the FTC’s argument regarding anti-competitive practices. The emails expose a possibly damaging truth: even Facebook’s creators doubt its ability to regain its digital dominance without relying on its subsidiaries.

The Uncertain Future

As the FTC trial progresses, these revelations paint a picture of a company grappling with its identity and relevance in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. the future of Facebook remains uncertain, as it faces the challenge of adapting to changing user preferences and increased competition.