Zuckerberg Blocks New Apple Product on Facebook and Instagram

A challenging month for Apple ( AAPL ) Stocks characterized by significant fluctuations and current market circumstances might soon face further deterioration.

A lot of fast-growing technology firms are currently facing difficulties because of the recent White House tariffs, which could disrupt their business processes. Nonetheless, Apple has successfully sidestepped these issues partly thanks to talks between CEO Tim Cook and President Donald Trump.

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This advancement gave a boost to Apple’s stock price, leading to speculations that the firm might weather the trade war without significant repercussions. Nonetheless, Meta Platforms has not shown similar resilience. ( META ) has taken a direct shot at Apple, which stands to complicate matters even further and slow the adoption of something the company has a lot riding on.

At a pivotal time for Apple and for the entire tech sector, the company may be facing an uphill battle as it tries to conquer a booming new market.

Meta Platforms just fired a shot across Apple’s bow

While Apple and Meta Platforms both operate in the tech sector and are members of the Magnificent 7, a group of prominent tech stocks responsible for most of the market’s growth, they are not typically seen as direct competitors. After all, one produces consumer electronics and the other operates social media platforms.

That said, Meta seems intent on stifling Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) enhancement as best it can. The company has ensured that features of Apple Intelligence, a suite of features included in its recent operating system, are not available for use on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Threads.

Related: Meta Platforms fights for its life in historical antitrust battle

While many leading tech companies opted to increase their AI spending in 2025, Apple has opted for a more measured approach. Even as the AI market has boomed, the company has maintained its strategy, which Barron’s describes as focusing “on how powerful a model it can get to work directly on its devices.”

Currently, Meta seems to be restricting specific Apple Intelligent features, like the Writing Tools and personalized emoji maker Genmoji, across all of its social networking applications, although according According to AppleInsider, the latter option becomes available when utilizing a web browser. This prompts several queries about why Meta might take such action, since it appears to undermine the quality of use for numerous applications.

“The most obvious point to consider is that Meta is also heavily investing in AI, and can be considered a rival to Apple in that sector,” Tom’s Guide notes. “A conspiratorially-minded person might assume that Meta is simply trying to push people towards using its own Meta AI, and not rely on a rival system.”

The outlet also highlights the possibility that Apple may want to ensure that other tech companies don’t gain access to its users’ accounts, even if they made the conscious decision to begin accessing Apple Intelligence’s features. These features would likely be popular, as they stand to enhance the experience of users across Meta’s platforms.

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At the time of writing, Meta has issued no statement on the decision to not allow access to these Apple Intelligence features, nor has CEO Mark Zuckerberg. But given his history with Apple, it’s easy to see how this could seem like an attempt from Meta to take a direct shot at the tech leader.

This could reflect Zuckerberg’s strained relationship with Apple

For years, Zuckerberg has levied criticisms at Apple, sometimes making harsh accusations. In 2020, he alleged that the company held a stronghold over apps that users could download, allowing it to charge “monopoly rents.”

In January 2025, Zuckerberg appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast and told the host that Apple hadn’t introduced anything significant since theiPhone, pointing out what he perceived as a deficiency in innovation from the company.

Related: No, Apple iPhones aren’t going to be manufactured in America anytime soon.

Meta now faces several critical queries about its choice related to Apple Intelligence, although it might disclose minimal information necessary. As suggested by AppleInsider, "There’s a low chance that Meta will ever explain the rationale for this decision—despite being willing to share private data from other companies."

While it remains unclear if Meta will ultimately make any changes or allow users to access Apple Intelligence, it seems likely the company will face pressure to do so in the near future.

As Cook helped convince Trump to spare Apple from the tariffs, he shouldn’t have much trouble convincing Zuckerberg to make a decision that could benefit both their companies.

Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast