Meta's purchase of Instagram was for over $1 billion; Instagram had only 14 employees at the time but a clear vision.

The acquisition carried risk because Instagram had a relatively short operating history.

WhatsApp was acquired for about $19b and served a different market, focused on mobile messaging and with strong usage in countries such as India.

Usage patterns vary by region; adoption among Americans is lower than in many other countries.

Meta pursued these acquisitions in part for brand presence and regional reach, which helped support its expansion.

Public figures, including Trump, have commented on large technology acquisitions.

Some analysts also highlight Google as another major company discussed in conversations about competition in tech markets.