Meta news covering Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, Reality Labs, metaverse developments, and Meta's social media platforms.
Lloyds Bank reported that 68% of fraud cases reported by its customers originated on Meta platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The average claim value for scams has risen to over £500, an increase of about £100 from the previous year. Common scams include ticket fraud for events like Taylor Swift's Eras tour and Premier League matches.
This commentary argues that Meta's delay in releasing the Muse Spark AI API signals trouble for its AI strategy, which was funded by layoffs. It contends that the closed-source model's API is crucial for monetization and that the delay undermines Meta's narrative of prioritizing AI investment.
Meta's AI app had a 'For You' section generating clickbait stories lacking substance and sourcing, including fabrications. After The Verge asked questions, Meta said it would remove the feature.
The commentary argues that Meta's decision to pay creators in USDC stablecoins validates blockchain settlement but exposes the unresolved problem of converting digital dollars into usable local currency. It contends that the real friction lies in off-ramp infrastructure, which remains fragmented and burdensome for creators in emerging markets.
Meta Platforms shares fell 6.6% in late trading Friday after a Financial Times report said the company is considering raising tens of billions of dollars through a stock sale to fund AI infrastructure investments. Meta raised its annual capital spending forecast to between $125 billion and $145 billion in April.
Instagram introduced Instagram Plus, a $3.99 monthly subscription with features like extended story duration, rewatch insights, and custom bio fonts. Meta announced the program on Thursday, alongside similar paid tiers for Facebook and WhatsApp.
Meta has built six weatherproof tents, each 125,000 square feet, as rapid deployment structures for AI chips at its Prometheus data center campus in Ohio, powered by a 200-megawatt generator facility. The tents reduced AI chip deployment time from years to months, with construction starting between April and June 2025 and already operational.
This commentary argues that Meta's planned data center in rural Louisiana may not deliver promised benefits to local residents, highlighting the gap between corporate promises and community outcomes. It suggests that while the project could bring jobs and investment, historical patterns indicate that such developments often fail to uplift struggling communities.