Meta shares plummet on AI spending surge and legal threats. The social media giant raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to $125 billion to $145 billion, up from $115 billion to $135 billion, signaling aggressive artificial intelligence infrastructure investment. However, the stock fell more than 6% in extended trading as investors worried about massive spending commitments. Meta also warned that regulatory scrutiny in the European Union and United States could significantly impact financial results, citing mounting legal challenges over youth safety on social media. The company faces thousands of lawsuits from states, municipalities, and school districts claiming its platforms are designed to be addictive and harmful to children.
