According to data from Similarweb, Meta’s text-based app Threads attracted roughly 141.5 million daily active mobile users as of January 7, 2026, outpacing Elon Musk’s X, which registered about 125 million daily mobile users. This milestone underscores Threads’ rapid adoption following its 2023 launch and highlights Meta’s ability to leverage its existing social graph from Facebook and Instagram. While web-based usage still favors X by approximately 150 million daily visits, Threads’ mobile dominance could translate into higher engagement metrics and increased ad inventory as Meta continues to integrate new features and promote cross-app experiences within its ecosystem.

Britain’s Gambling Commission has formally warned Meta Platforms that its sites, including Facebook and Instagram, have hosted advertisements for unlicensed online casinos operating without UK regulatory approval. The regulator cited evidence of criminal operators placing targeted gambling promotions and stated that Meta has so far failed to implement adequate screening measures. The Commission has set a 12-week deadline for Meta to establish a compliance framework, or face potential fines and restrictions on ad services. Investors will be watching Meta’s response closely, as enhanced moderation controls could increase operating costs and impact ad revenue growth in the UK market.

Following Australia’s proposal to restrict under-16s from using major social-media platforms, regulators in the European Union and other jurisdictions are considering similar measures. Meta, Snap and Reddit have been identified as primary targets for potential age-verification requirements or outright under-16 bans. For Meta, which reported 3.54 billion daily active users across its family of apps in late 2025, new age-related restrictions could reduce user engagement among a key demographic and diminish advertising reach. Such regulatory actions may force Meta to invest in additional user-vetting technology and could temper growth in regions accounting for nearly 25 percent of its advertising revenue.

Meta has signaled a significant ramp-up in capital expenditures for its AI infrastructure, forecasting $70 billion to $72 billion in full-year capex for 2025—up from prior estimates—and indicating further increases for 2026. The company built out two new data centers in Denmark and Singapore in 2025 and deployed custom AI chips to support its Llama language model, now used in open-source projects powered by millions of developers. With 3.5 billion daily active users across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, Meta expects AI-driven features like personalized recommendations and automated ad creation to boost engagement and advertiser ROI, potentially lifting ad revenue by mid-single digits annually over the next three years.