#Meta

Australia’s new social media ban for under-16s, effective December 11th, has led tech giants like Meta to remove hundreds of thousands of accounts. Meta supports industry collaboration for safety enhancements over broad bans, proposing solutions like Age Keys. Concerns remain about a “whack-a-mole” effect, with teens finding workarounds. The ban, framed by the government as protecting children’s mental health amidst growing global concerns, faces challenges, including a legal bid from Reddit.

Meta is partnering with nuclear power providers Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo to secure significant energy for its AI ambitions, including the “Prometheus” supercluster. These collaborations aim to supply 6.6 gigawatts by 2035, supporting data centers and AI development. This move highlights the growing trend of tech giants relying on nuclear energy to power their expanding AI infrastructure and maintain global leadership in the field.

China is reviewing Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus, focusing on potential violations of technology control regulations. The investigation by Beijing’s Ministry of Commerce aims to ensure compliance with export controls and overseas investment laws, signaling China’s determination to protect its strategic technological assets, especially in AI. The probe is unlikely to block the deal entirely but could impose conditions and give China leverage.

Meta has appointed Curtis Joseph Mahoney as its new Chief Legal Officer, succeeding Jennifer Newstead. Mahoney, formerly of Microsoft, brings extensive legal and regulatory experience to Meta as the company faces significant litigation and scrutiny, particularly regarding child safety. His background in AI innovation and global trade is expected to bolster Meta’s legal strategy amidst its development of the metaverse and advanced technologies.

Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses are experiencing overwhelming demand in the U.S., leading to production delays and a postponed international rollout. The company is prioritizing existing U.S. orders, with waitlists extending into 2026. This high consumer interest in Meta’s AI-powered eyewear, which offers photo/video capture, music, calls, and AI assistant interaction, highlights a growing market for wearable AI devices.

Dina Powell McCormick has resigned from Meta’s board of directors, effective immediately. The reason for her departure was not disclosed in the SEC filing. Meta does not plan to replace her on the board, though she may be considering a strategic advisory role. Powell McCormick joined Meta in April and previously served in the Trump and George W. Bush administrations. She currently holds a leadership position at BDT & MSD Partners.

Instagram is launching a dedicated app for smart TVs, initially on Amazon Fire TV, to expand its short-form video presence. The app will primarily feature Reels in their native vertical format, prioritizing user experience over immediate monetization. This move aims to capture more of the video entertainment market and diversify Instagram’s content offerings beyond mobile devices. Future expansions to other platforms and potential longer-form content are planned.

Meta is pivoting from its open‑source Llama models to a proprietary next‑ AI system codenamed “Avocado,” now slated for Q1 2026 after testing delays. The shift follows a $14.3 billion hiring spree, including Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang as chief AI officer, to compete with OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. While ad revenue remains strong ($160 bn+ annually), the company is expanding data‑center capacity and adopting third‑party clouds to support AI workloads. Investors will watch Avocado’s performance, cost efficiencies, and its impact on Meta’s ad business.

Meta is acquiring AI‑wearable startup Limitless, known for a pendant that records conversations and creates summaries. The deal, announced by Limitless CEO Dan Siroker, adds speech‑to‑text and on‑device summarization to Meta’s expanding hardware line, which already includes Ray‑Ban smart glasses. By integrating privacy‑focused AI processing, Meta aims to broaden wearables beyond glasses and headsets, reduce smartphone dependence, and open new revenue from subscription AI services and enterprise licensing. The acquisition positions Meta to compete in the growing AI‑enabled wearable market alongside rivals like Amazon and Google.

U.S. equities were flat as mixed labor data left markets cautious and overbought. Meta jumped ~4% after cutting its metaverse unit to focus on ads and AI, while Costco’s comparable sales fell slightly, keeping its valuation high despite solid same‑store growth. Salesforce beat earnings but missed revenue forecasts, flagging AI‑driven pressure on its licensing model. Cramer highlighted Snowflake, Five Below, Hormel, PayPal and Kroger as potential movers, and his charitable trust remains long on META, CRM and COST. Trade alerts face mandatory 45‑minute and 72‑hour waiting periods before execution.