Consumer News: Antitrust showdown begins today: FTC vs. Meta

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Consumer Daily Reports

Details: Written by Consumer Affairs News; Category: Consumer Daily Reports; Published: 14 April 2025; Created: 14 April 2025; Last Updated: 14 April 2025

This could be the trial that reshapes social media forever

April 14, 2025

Key takeaways:

Landmark case begins as FTC seeks to break up Meta over Instagram, WhatsApp deals
Tech executives, including Zuckerberg, expected to testify in trial extending into summer
Trumps possible intervention adds political tension to high-stakes court battle

After nearly six years of legal wrangling, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday began its antitrust trial against Meta, in a historic case that could lead to the breakup of the $1.4 trillion tech giant behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

If the FTC persuades U.S. District Judge James Boasberg that Meta illegally built a monopoly through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, it could force the company to divest its core platforms a move not seen since the breakup of AT&T four decades ago.

The case launched under Trumps first term, expanded during Bidens presidency, and now proceeding under Trump-appointed FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has already endured years of setbacks. Judge Boasberg initially dismissed the FTCs original 2021 filing, questioning the agencys evidence of market dominance. A revised version was allowed to proceed in 2022, and the case is now finally going to trial.

Despite the FTCs persistence, Boasberg has continued to express skepticism, saying in court filings the governments argument strains this countrys creaking antitrust precedents. Whether the FTC can prove Metas purchases were anticompetitive in a now more diverse social media landscape with TikTok, YouTube, X, and others remains a key hurdle.

Star witnesses and public scrutiny

A parade of tech leaders are expected to testify during the trial, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, former COO Sheryl Sandberg, and top executives from WhatsApp and Instagram. Rivals like Snap, Pinterest, and TikTok may also take the stand.

These high-profile testimonies could reveal internal strategies and competitive concerns that influenced Metas biggest acquisitions. The case will also test how companies like Meta define competition in a digital age where platforms often blend features and audiences.

Trumps role could shift the outcome

President Trump, who has recently reconnected with Zuckerberg, could intervene at any point. Though the FTC traditionally operates independently, Trump has asserted unprecedented influence over the agency firing Democratic commissioners and signaling that Ferguson would follow his lead.

Zuckerbergs recent efforts to align Meta with Republican values and elevate GOP voices in leadership roles have fueled speculation that Trump might move to settle or soften the case particularly if Meta appears likely to lose.

Whats at stake:

The trial, which could run into July, will determine not only the future of Metas empire, but also the power of antitrust regulators to rein in Big Tech. With global implications for corporate consolidation, political power, and digital competition, the verdict may reshape the internet as we know it.

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Posted: 2025-04-14 02:32:52

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Consumer News: Medicare finalizes steep drug price reductions
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Popular weight loss drugs are included in the discounted prescriptions

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New Medicare-negotiated prices for 15 widely used medications take effect in 2027, impacting more than 5 million beneficiaries.
Total projected savings: $12 billion for Medicare and $685 million in reduced out-of-pocket spending for patients.
Drugs with the deepest discounts include Janumet, Breo Ellipta, Tradjenta, Ozempic, Wegovy, Linzess and others.

Millions of older Americans are expected to see meaningful relief at the pharmacy counter after Medicare reached new pricing agreements for 15 widely used prescription drugssome of which currently rank among the most expensive in the Medicare Part D program.

The updated prices, negotiated under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, take effect in 2027.

The selected medications are used to treat conditions affecting millions of seniors, including diabetes, cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), irritable bowel syndrome, and obesity. Popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic and Wegovy are among those with newly negotiated discounts.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), more than 5.3 million Part D enrollees used at least one of the affected drugs in 2024, meaning the changes are poised to have a broad financial impact.

Billions in savings

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Consumer News: What is a ‘data center’ and how much electricity does it use?
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Dominion Energy says its upcoming $11-a-month rate hike is driven by grid upgrades and inflation not Virginias rapidly growing data-center industry.
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The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved a utility rate increase for Dominion Energy customers that will add about $11 to the average monthly electric bill starting in January.

Critics were quick to point out that Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of data centers in the country, but Dominin said that had little effect on the rate. Instead, it said grid upgrades and inflation are responsible for the increase, not data centers which have been a hot topic of conversation lately.

If you arent exactly clear about what data centers do, you probably arent alone. A data center is a specialized building full of computers (servers), storage systems, and network equipment that store, process, and move digital information for things like websites, cloud storage, streaming, and AI. Its essentially the physical internet behind online services.

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They run thousands to tens of thousands of powerful servers at once, often 24 hours a day, so the core computing load is huge.
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How much energy is typical?

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Key efficiency metric (PUE)

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Consumer News: Black Friday shoppers spend a record $11.8 billion online
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U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online on Black Friday 2025 a 9.1 % increase from the previous year.
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Prior promises will be null and void, he wrote regarding vaccine approvals in pregnancy.

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Consumer News: Black Friday deals spark overspending as holiday shopping ramps up
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 23:07:08 +0000

Black Friday urgency pushes consumers to spend more

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

November 28, 2025

Black Friday promotions trigger urgency and impulsive online buying
Convenience features like one-click checkout fuel overspending and debt
Experts urge shoppers to add friction, track triggers and plan purchases

Americans spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday last year, according to Adobe Analytics, reflecting the powerful psychological pull of deep discounts and limited-time offers. Retail researchers say the annual surge in promotions creates a sense of urgency that can override financial caution. When shoppers are convinced a deal is fleeting, they are more likely to buy first and think later.

The widespread use of one-click checkout, stored credit-card information and buy now, pay later loans amplifies that impulse. These tools promise convenience and instant gratification a quick dopamine spike that often comes before consumers take a moment to consider whether a purchase is necessary. As a result, many shoppers overspend during the holidays and wind up carrying debt well into the next year.

Experts warn of psychological triggers behind holiday purchases

Financial therapists say the mechanics of Black Friday deals intentionally play on emotional vulnerabilities. Sales can serve as an outlet for stress, boredom or a desire for reward, especially during a busy and sometimes emotionally charged holiday season. Without guardrails, these forces can push consumers into patterns of unhealthy spending.

Nathan Astle, a certified financial therapist, recommends removing the runway for impulse purchases by deleting stored payment information from online accounts, apps and mobile wallets, in a New York Times report. Anything that makes spending slightly less convenient reduces the likelihood of overspending, he said.

Other experts advise adding intentional delays to the buying process. Strategies include setting a 24-hour waiting period before making any discretionary purchase or listening to a full song before pressing the checkout button a small pause that can interrupt the emotional rush that leads to impulse buying.

Small behavioral shifts can rein in holiday overspending

Researchers say introducing points of friction can help curb automatic spending behaviors. For in-store shoppers, this can mean carrying items by hand instead of using a cart, intentionally limiting how much can be purchased. For online shoppers, creating wish lists instead of loading items into a cart can often provide the same sense of satisfaction without completing the purchase.

Planning ahead also makes a significant difference. Financial counselors recommend making a list of what you truly need and noting regular prices before Black Friday begins. Armed with this information, shoppers are better able to determine whether a discount is genuine or artificially inflated.

Another key step is identifying personal triggers whether certain product categories, social-media ads or influencer recommendations. Unfollow or mute accounts that nudge you toward impulse buys, and steer clear of haul videos that glamorize excessive consumption.

Understanding emotional spending improves long-term habits

Experts emphasize that holiday overspending is often a symptom of deeper emotional patterns. Keeping a money journal can help shoppers recognize what they were feeling before, during and after each purchase. That awareness can reveal hidden motivations such as loneliness, stress or boredom that fuel unnecessary spending.

While Black Friday deals promise big savings, financial counselors say the best bargain may be slowing down long enough to understand the forces driving your decisions.

Tips to avoid holiday overspending

Delete saved payment info: Removing stored cards and one-click options forces a pause before you buy.
Use a 24-hour rule: Wait one day before purchasing anything that isnt essential.
Add friction: Carry items in-store instead of using a cart, or create an online wish list instead of adding to your cart.
Make a must-have list: Decide what you actually need before sales begin and note regular prices to spot real deals.
Identify your triggers: Mute influencers, skip haul videos and avoid product categories that tempt you.
Play a buying pause song: Listen to one full track before checking out online to disrupt impulse spending.
Keep a money journal: Track what you buy and how you feel before and after purchases to catch emotional spending patterns.

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