Zuckerberg Slams Apple, Accusing Them of Stifling Innovation and Using Market Dominance to Squeeze Smaller Developers

In a scathing attack, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg launched a 30-minute-long interview with Joe Rogan, criticizing Apple for allegedly stifling innovation and squeezing smaller developers out of the market. During their conversation, which lasted almost three hours, Zuckerberg called out Apple's 30% commission on App Store transactions as an "Apple tax", arguing that it hinders innovation and limits opportunities for small developers to grow.

"They haven't invented anything great in a while," Zuckerberg said during the discussion. "It's like Steve Jobs invented the iPhone, and now they're just kind of sitting on it 20 years later." He claimed that Apple is simply squeezing everyone with its market dominance.

The Meta chief executive also criticized Apple's refusal to share its connection protocol with Meta for their Ray-Ban smart glasses project. Zuckerberg alleged that security was not a viable reason for the denial, instead suggesting that it may have been motivated by business interests rather than genuine concerns for user privacy.

Additionally, he accused Apple of using its "blue bubble, green bubble" strategy in iMessage to create peer pressure among users and lock them into the Apple ecosystem. Zuckerberg warned that this tactic could ultimately lead to Apple's downfall if they fail to innovate.

During their conversation, Zuckerberg revealed his concerns about Apple's sales figures and stated that if the company fails to create a product worth buying, it will get beaten by competitors in the market.

The tech giant has been facing increasing criticism from regulators and users alike for its practices, with many accusing it of stifling competition. This discussion highlights the ongoing tensions between major tech players like Apple and smaller firms like Meta, where innovation and growth are constantly at stake.