Meta raises 2026 capital spending forecast to $125 billion–$145 billion amid youth social media backlash and regulatory scrutiny

Meta Platforms increased its annual capital spending forecast for 2026 to between $125 billion and $145 billion, compared with its prior forecast of $115 billion to $135 billion. The company's stock fell more than 6% in extended trading following the announcement.

Meta faces legal and regulatory pressure over children's safety on social media, including thousands of court cases by individuals, municipalities, states and school districts alleging its platforms are designed to be addictive and harmful to children. The company warned that 'additional trials scheduled for this year in the US may ultimately result in a material loss.'

Meta's first-quarter revenue reached $56.31 billion, exceeding the LSEG-compiled analysts' average estimate of $55.45 billion. Family daily active people (a metric tracking unique users who open any of Meta's apps in a day) rose 4% from a year earlier to 3.56 billion.

Meta is projected to overtake Alphabet as the world's biggest online advertiser this year, with expected $243.46 billion in global net ad revenue, compared with Alphabet's projected $239.54 billion.