Design It For Us Co-Chair Zamaan Qureshi released the following statement:

“Design It For Us is deeply disappointed that Chief Judge Boasberg’s ruling today excused Meta’s anticompetitive takeover of Instagram and WhatsApp. This decision bolsters Meta’s power even after it has repeatedly shown it will put profit over young people’s safety, well-being, and ability to shape the digital world they grow up in.

“For years, Meta has bought its way out of fair competition, absorbing platforms that young people rely on and tightening its grip on digital spaces. Pretending the acquisition at the center of this ruling isn’t monopoly power ignores reality. This ruling gives Meta a free pass at the exact moment when regulators should be stepping up. It rewards a system where tech giants can pick off emerging platforms rather than compete with them. This means that young people have fewer choices, fewer safeguards, and fewer online spaces built with their needs in mind.

“Like the Google search remedies ruling by a California judge, Judge Boasberg has missed a legitimate opportunity to hold Meta accountable for its antitrust violations. Now, markets will be less competitive, allowing Meta’s monopolistic conduct to continue. While we believe regulators have ample authority under existing antitrust law to take on monopoly power, the case could not be clearer for Congressional action to update and improve our antitrust laws to regulate digital markets. That is why Design It For Us has endorsed bills like the Open App Markets Act and the App Store Freedom Act because they claw back power from these digital goliaths for our generation.”

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About Design It For Us

Design It For Us is a youth-led coalition of young people, activists, and leaders that aims to achieve policy reforms to protect kids, teens, and young adults online. The coalition is led by two Co-Chairs and a team of Program Leads between the ages of 18 and 26. The coalition is also supported by an array of youth-led organizations, staff, and advisors.