FTC takes legal action against Facebook

In case you haven’t noticed, Facebook has been growing at an exponential rate over the last decade. This growth has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which resulted in a lawsuit against the social media giant. The Silicon Valley-based social media network is considered a monopoly by FTC and the FTC deems Facebook’s actions illegal.

This identification of Facebook as a monopoly should come as no surprise to those familiar with Facebook’s growth method through the acquiring of emerging competitors. Here’s a bit about what the FTC had to say:

"Following a lengthy investigation in cooperation with a coalition of attorneys general of 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam, the complaint alleges that Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy - including its 2012 acquisition of up-and-coming rival Instagram, its 2014 acquisition of the mobile messaging app WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers - to eliminate threats to its monopoly. This course of conduct harms competition, leaves consumers with few choices for personal social networking, and deprives advertisers of the benefits of competition."

The FTC believes that Facebook is continually snuffing out any competition through its growth strategy by purchasing any emerging companies. While Facebook’s largest growth in terms of product offering happened in the earlier half of the 2010s, Facebook hasn’t always been successful in its scaling methods.

Facebook’s attempts to grow since the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp

Facebook has attempted to buy companies such as Snapchat and has even copied key features of Snapchat in order to compete as much as possible in the social media market. Facebook has also tried to affect TikTok’s ability to grow in the US market by working with US senators to spur concerns about the Chinese government’s involvement with TikTok. Despite Facebook’s involvement in the growth of Snapchat and TikTok, both Snapchat and TikTok have continued to grow and thrive in the US market.

Facebook’s response

In an official response to the FTC lawsuit, here’s what Facebook has to say:

"This lawsuit risks sowing doubt and uncertainty about the US government’s own merger review process and whether acquiring businesses can actually rely on the outcomes of the legal process. It would also punish companies for protecting their investment and technology from free-riding by those who did not pay for the innovation, making those companies less likely over the long term to make their platforms available to spur the growth of new products and services."

How will this lawsuit play out? What do think will happen to Facebook? Let us know in the comments below!

New layout for Facebook desktop users

Facebook announced new changes in May 2019 regarding a new Facebook desktop layout. It’s taken some time for the social media giant to pull it off but after months of testing with different user groups, Facebook is making the new layout available to all users.

This new desktop layout is focused helping users easily navigate throughout Facebook’s different elements. Facebook wanted to make the desktop version be more similar with Facebook’s mobile app. While most Facebook users access Facebook via mobile, Facebook still feels the need to create seamless experiences for both desktop and mobile users. Here the full article on how to test out the new desktop layout: https://bit.ly/2U4qp2V

3 easy Facebook marketing ideas you can use this holiday season

As it gets closer to Christmas, there are many things you can do to get more sales. Facebook marketing is one way to get the job done since many people are using Facebook to find out what their friends and family are buying this year. Social media is a powerful way to increase brand awareness so don’t hesitate to test out new ideas. Here are three easy Facebook marketing ideas you can use for your business:

Countdown to Christmas Day

There's nothing like creating a sense of urgency while reminding everyone that you’re in business. Your countdown could feature different things for every day that you count down to Christmas. Here are a few ideas you can customize to your business:

• 10 ways cool features available in your latest product

• 12 discount codes for each of your services

• 10 things your business is grateful for

Giveaway collaboration

Do you want to expand your reach and get in front of more customers on Facebook? Partner with a business that complements what you have to offer. People aren’t always buying just one gift for a friend or family member. If the person they’re purchasing presents for is into fitness, there’s a good chance they won’t just buy single hoodie. They could end up buying supplements and a water bottle to go with the hoodie. Which businesses could you collaborate with this holiday season on a giveaway? Below are a handful of collaborations that could work really well:

• A yoga studio and a smoothie shop

• A motorcycle dealership and an auto repair shop

• A catering company and a wedding planner

• A boxing gym and a spa

• A photography studio and a nail salon

Let us know in the comments below who you’re thinking of collaborating with!

User-generated content

Are your customers taking pictures of your products/services? Share them on your Facebook timeline! It’s an effective way to show your customers that you’re paying attention them and what they have to say. User-generated content is a simple way to gain more trust with greater authenticity. You’re able to help potential customers relate to your business when they see people like them benefitting from your business.

The ideas above fairly simple can be very effective in your Facebook marketing efforts since you can involve your online community. Do you have any questions about Facebook marketing for your business? Let us know in the comments below!