Frustration with Facebook is growing online after internal messages from Mark Zuckerberg surfaced in a federal antitrust case.

The documents show the Meta CEO discussing how to prevent smaller social platforms from challenging Facebook’s dominance—a strategy many critics say reflects a long-standing pattern of undermining rivals rather than competing with them.

‘I saw no point’

Reddit users responded by recounting their reasons for abandoning the platform, calling attention to what they see as its shift from social networking to an ad-driven engagement engine.

“There is a reason they don’t make Marketplace its own app, Facebook would die if they did,” one user wrote.

Others contributors shared that they left years ago due to a disordered news feed and constant interference from content they never asked to see.

“I deleted FB several years ago when my feed was no longer in chronological order despite choosing the option,” one person posted.

“I would miss posts from close friends. I saw no point in continuing to use it.”

Internal Meta emails disclosed as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) lawsuit against the company portray Zuckerberg as focused on eliminating perceived threats early.

According to Union Rayo, in one internal message, Zuckerberg is seen calling Instagram a “terrifying threat.”

User Experience

The case could reshape how regulators view platform dominance in the tech industry.

Meta has long claimed its acquisitions improved user experience. However, the FTC lawsuit argues these moves were defensive—a way to keep challengers from gaining traction.

According to Newsweek, officials believe internal communications support this claim and could set a precedent for future enforcement.

Meanwhile, Facebook continues to draw criticism over how it structures the user experience. Many former users say the platform feels disjointed and overloaded.

“Anyone remember when Facebook was for college students and was actually fun?” one Reddit commenter wrote, lamenting the platform’s direction.

Facebook launched in 2004 as a college-exclusive network and expanded into the mainstream in subsequent years. Its rise was powered by a clean interface and friend-focused activity.

But in the last decade, users have complained about an algorithm that prioritizes viral posts and advertisements over updates from people they know.

Marketplace, introduced in 2016, has since become one of the app’s most used features. Some Reddit users suggested Facebook deliberately keeps it tied to the main app to maintain usage metrics.

Many say the platform’s current design is bloated and no longer delivers the utility or experience that drew people to it in the first place.

Meta Response

In a statement to Newsweek via email, a spokesperson for Meta said, “Out-of-context and years-old documents about acquisitions that were reviewed by the FTC more than a decade ago will not obscure the realities of the competition we face, or overcome the FTC’s weak case.”

Newsweek‘s “What Should I Do?” offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work, and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, click here.