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  Title	Meta Platforms (META) Stock Today: EU WhatsApp AI Probe, Teen Ban Fallout and 2025 Price Targets
  ID	28943286
  External ID	7a5b8b9c8bb9a330ff97d4d7b635947c
  Author	Khadija Saeed
  Published Date	Dec. 4, 2025, 8 a.m.
  Summary	Meta Platforms (META) Stock Today: EU WhatsApp AI Probe, Teen Ban Fallout and 2025 Price Targets - TechStock²
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  URL	https://ts2.tech/en/meta-platforms-meta-stock-today-eu-whatsapp-ai-probe-teen-ban-fallout-and-2025-price-targets
  Sentiment	Negative: 0.19468    Neutral: 0.03725    Positive: 0.76806
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  Content ID	36558986
  Key	367bba16-2541-409c-92fe-d3e0690bdc5d
  Content	As of Thursday, December 4, 2025, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) is trading around the low‑$640s per share, down sharply from its August record near $796 but still well above its 52‑week low of about $480. [1] Investors are digesting a packed news cycle: a fresh EU antitrust probe into WhatsApp's AI policy, Australia's world‑first teen social‑media ban, a high‑profile design hire from Apple, a new cash dividend, and a wall of AI‑driven capital spending that has divided analysts. Below is a comprehensive, news‑style rundown of what is moving META stock today and how Wall Street now values the company for 2025 and beyond. How META Stock Is Trading on December 4, 2025 Meta shares recently changed hands near $640, after an intraday range roughly between $638 and $649 on Thursday. Over the last 52 weeks, the stock has traded between about $479.80 and $796.25, according to real‑time quote data from major market sites. [2] Despite the pullback since late summer, Meta is still modestly positive year‑over‑year, but it has surrendered roughly 15% from its all‑time high. A fresh analysis from 24/7 Wall St. notes the stock is up only about 4% over the past 12 months after the post‑earnings sell‑off tied to AI capex concerns. [3] Key fundamental backdrop: Q3 2025 earnings beat: Meta grew revenue 26% year over year to about $51.2 billion , topping Street estimates around $49.5 billion. Adjusted EPS came in near $7.25 vs. $6.74 expected. [4] Meta grew revenue , topping Street estimates around $49.5 billion. Adjusted EPS came in near expected. AI infrastructure surge: Management raised its 2025 capital‑expenditure range from roughly $66–72 billion to $70–72 billion , with most of the incremental spending earmarked for AI data centers and infrastructure. [5] Management raised its from roughly $66–72 billion to , with most of the incremental spending earmarked for AI data centers and infrastructure. Reality Labs still a drag: The metaverse/Reality Labs unit generated about $470 million in Q3 revenue but posted an operating loss of roughly $4.4 billion, underscoring how dependent the investment case remains on AI and the core ad business. [6] That combination—robust growth but huge, open‑ended AI investment—is the backdrop for today's news. EU Opens Antitrust Probe Into WhatsApp AI Policy The single biggest headline for META on December 4 is a new EU antitrust investigation targeting Meta's plan to roll out AI‑powered features on WhatsApp Business. What the EU is investigating The European Commission has opened a formal probe into Meta's new policy for AI providers using the WhatsApp Business API. Regulators are concerned that the rules could block rival AI providers from reaching WhatsApp users, effectively forcing businesses that want AI assistants or chatbots to go through Meta's own tools. [7] EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said Brussels is considering interim measures to prevent potential harm to competition while the investigation runs, an unusually aggressive step that would effectively act as a temporary injunction on Meta's planned rollout. [8] Key points from EU coverage: The scrutinised policy is expected to take effect in January 2026 , giving regulators a tight window if they want to intervene beforehand. [9] , giving regulators a tight window if they want to intervene beforehand. Complaints from smaller AI and messaging providers allege they could be locked out of WhatsApp's 3‑billion‑user base if Meta makes its own AI the default gatekeeper. [10] allege they could be locked out of WhatsApp's 3‑billion‑user base if Meta makes its own AI the default gatekeeper. Under EU antitrust and Digital Markets Act rules, fines can reach up to 10% of global annual revenue for serious violations, with higher penalties for repeat offences. [11] Why this matters for META stock WhatsApp has quietly become one of Meta's biggest growth engines, with more than 3 billion monthly users and accelerating monetization through business messaging and AI‑powered tools. [12] A ruling that forces Meta to open APIs on equal terms—or delays or restricts the rollout of WhatsApp AI assistants in Europe—could: Reduce Meta's ability to bundle its own AI services with messaging at premium pricing. with messaging at premium pricing. Limit the data advantage Meta hopes to gain from embedding its Llama models inside everyday conversations. Add legal and compliance costs, with the risk of multi‑billion‑dollar fines if the company is found to have abused its market power. For now, the news is more of a headline risk than an immediate earnings hit, but markets tend to discount regulatory overhangs, especially in Europe, where Meta already faces obligations under the Digital Services Act and DMA. [13] Australia's Teen Social‑Media Ban Hits Instagram, Facebook and Threads A second regulatory story today comes from Australia, where a world‑first ban on social‑media access for under‑16s is about to take effect. What's changing in Australia Under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, social platforms must prevent users under 16 from accessing their services or risk fines of up to A$50 million (about US$33 million) per breach. The law formally kicks in on December 10, 2025. [14] Ahead of the deadline, Reuters reports that Meta has already begun deactivating or freezing accounts held by under‑16s on Facebook, Instagram and Threads as of December 4. [15] Millions of accounts across all platforms, including rival services like TikTok and Snapchat, are impacted. Australia's eSafety Commissioner now argues the blunt ban is necessary after 'incremental' safeguards failed to curb harms from addictive design features and harmful content, and she predicts other governments could follow Canberra's lead. [16] Investor impact From a revenue standpoint, Australia is a small share of Meta's global user base, and under‑16 users contribute less ad spending than adults. The direct hit to near‑term revenue is likely modest. However, the symbolic impact is larger: The ban reinforces growing global political pressure on youth usage , mental health and data practices. , mental health and data practices. If similar under‑16 prohibitions spread to Europe or parts of the U.S., user‑growth and engagement metrics in key developed markets could face structural headwinds. Compliance costs (age verification, moderation, appeals) will rise and could marginally affect margins. For now, investors seem to see the move as part of the regulatory 'background noise' around big social platforms rather than a stock‑moving shock, but it adds another item to Meta's already long risk list. Meta Poaches Apple's Design Chief to Supercharge AI Hardware On the positive side of today's news ledger, Meta just scored a major win in the Silicon Valley talent wars. Alan Dye joins Meta's Reality Labs Reuters and other outlets report that Alan Dye, Apple's longtime head of human interface design, will join Meta as chief design officer at the end of December. [17] Dye has been a key design force behind the Apple Watch, iPhone X, the Vision Pro headset and multiple iOS redesigns. Meta is setting up a new creative studio within Reality Labs that Dye will lead. The group will focus on AI‑powered wearables, smart glasses, and spatial‑computing devices, blending design, fashion and technology. [18] This move aligns with CEO Mark Zuckerberg's thesis that AI devices—particularly smart glasses—will eventually replace smartphones as the primary computing interface. [19] Why this matters for META investors It confirms Meta's determination to be first in AI hardware , not just AI software. , not just AI software. Hiring one of Apple's top designers suggests Meta is serious about premium device experiences , not just experimental headsets. , not just experimental headsets. Over time, a successful wearable‑AI strategy could diversify Meta's revenue beyond advertising, although that is unlikely to be material in 2026 earnings. In the short term, this is primarily a sentiment positive: a visible signal that Meta can attract top‑tier talent even from arch‑rival Apple. Dividend Update: Meta Sweetens Its Cash Payout Late Wednesday, December 3, Meta announced a fresh quarterly dividend, continuing the cash‑return story that began in early 2024. The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.525 per share on both Class A and Class B shares, payable December 23, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2025. [20] Meta only started paying dividends in 2024, with an initial quarterly payout of $0.50 per share. [21] At a share price around $640, the new dividend implies an annualized yield of roughly 0.33%—still tiny, but a symbolic shift for a company that once reinvested nearly everything back into growth or buybacks. [22] For income‑focused investors, the combination of: a modest but growing dividend , and , and an enormous ongoing share‑repurchase program reinforces the idea that Meta is transitioning from hyper‑growth story to maturing cash‑compounder, even as it pours tens of billions into AI. AI Capex Shock vs. AI Monetization: The Core 2025 Debate The central question around META stock today is simple: Will the AI spending spree pay for itself? The bear case: 'Too much, too fast' Several recent commentaries—including a newly highlighted Motley Fool piece titled 'Why I'm Rethinking My Bullish Stance on Meta Platforms'—argue that Meta's AI pivot has made the stock far more capital‑intensive than investors expected. [23] Key bear arguments: Capex guidance implies $70–72 billion in 2025 and potential AI infrastructure spending exceeding $100 billion by 2026 , when you include data centers, networking and specialized AI chips. [24] and potential AI infrastructure spending exceeding , when you include data centers, networking and specialized AI chips. Reality Labs still burns billions each quarter, and the path to profitability in VR/AR remains uncertain. [25] Higher fixed costs could make Meta more vulnerable to ad‑cycle downturns, compressing future margins if revenue growth slows. The bull case: 'AI is already paying for itself' Other analysts see the sell‑off since Q3 as an overreaction. A MarketWatch piece highlighting Rosenblatt Securities analyst Barton Crockett notes that Meta's AI‑powered ad tools already run at an annualized revenue pace above $60 billion —roughly matching the incremental AI capex the company expects to deploy. [26] —roughly matching the incremental AI capex the company expects to deploy. Crockett keeps a Buy rating and a $1,117 price target , implying about 70% upside from current levels. [27] rating and a , implying about from current levels. A Seeking Alpha upgrade, 'Meta: The Next Google,' argues that Meta's AI ad suite can reduce acquisition costs for advertisers by up to 58%, driving sticky, high‑margin demand. [28] Meanwhile, a December 4 feature from 24/7 Wall St. stresses that revenue growth has already reaccelerated to the mid‑20s percent, despite the drag from Reality Labs, thanks largely to AI‑driven improvements in ad targeting and engagement across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. [29] Broader AI sentiment Zacks' latest 'Investment Ideas' commentary on the AI trade—where Meta appears alongside Alphabet, Nvidia, Microsoft, Cisco and MongoDB—argues that current AI valuations are high but still far from dot‑com bubble extremes and that investors calling a 'top' in AI might be early. [30] In other words, for bulls, Meta's AI capex is a leveraged bet on a still‑young secular wave, not a late‑cycle gamble. 2025–2026 Analyst Price Targets and Forecasts for META Stock Wall Street remains broadly positive on Meta, even after baking in higher spending and rising regulatory risk. Consensus from major broker and data platforms Across major forecasters, the picture looks roughly consistent: MarketBeat: 50 analysts, 'Moderate Buy' rating, average 12‑month target around $823–824 , with a high of $1,117 and a low around $605 . This implies roughly 28–29% upside from around $640. [31] 50 analysts, rating, , with a high of and a low around . This implies roughly from around $640. MarketScreener: 67 analysts, 'Buy' consensus, average target $839.10 , high $1,117, low $685; about 31% upside to the average target. [32] 67 analysts, consensus, , high $1,117, low $685; about to the average target. TipRanks: Average target $838.14 , with estimated 30.8% upside ; rating tilted toward 'Strong Buy.' [33] Average target , with estimated ; rating tilted toward Investing.com consensus: Roughly $839 average target from 59 analysts, with a consensus rating described as 'Strong Buy.' [34] Roughly average target from 59 analysts, with a consensus rating described as StockAnalysis.com: 43 covering analysts with a 'Strong Buy' consensus and an average target around $820.91, implying roughly 28% upside. [35] 24/7 Wall St.'s December 4 forecast article sums this up with a high target of $1,117, a median target around $839 and a low of $685. [36] The wide range underlines how divisive Meta's AI push remains, even among bulls. Quant and technical‑model forecasts Short‑term technical models are more cautious: CoinCodex 's AI‑driven forecast sees Meta's price drifting from about $639.60 today to roughly $664 by December 9—just 3.9% higher —and expects Meta to trade in a December 2025 channel between about $640 and $687 , an average around $668 (roughly 7% above current levels). [37] 's AI‑driven forecast sees Meta's price drifting from about today to roughly by December 9—just —and expects Meta to trade in a December 2025 channel between about , an average around (roughly current levels). The same model labels sentiment 'bearish,' with 69% of tracked technical indicators flashing negative and most medium‑ and longer‑term moving averages still above the current price. [38] with and most medium‑ and longer‑term moving averages still above the current price. Intellectia AI's technical dashboard shows a mixed picture: near‑term momentum has turned positive, but the 20‑day moving average sits below the 60‑day, signalling a strong mid‑term bearish trend. It highlights support zones near $550–$576 and resistance clusters around $660 and $685. [39] Taken together, traditional analysts largely see double‑digit upside over 12 months, while purely technical models lean to 'cautious to short‑term bearish,' emphasizing that the stock is still working off its post‑earnings hangover. Institutional Flows: Mixed but Still Strong Ownership Fresh 13F‑based reports published December 4 illustrate how institutional investors are adjusting to the new AI‑spend narrative: CreativeOne Wealth LLC increased its META position by about 7.3% , adding 2,557 shares to hold 37,654 shares valued near $27.8 million , making Meta its 28th‑largest position. [40] increased its META position by about , adding 2,557 shares to hold 37,654 shares valued near , making Meta its 28th‑largest position. Summit Global Investments trimmed its stake by roughly 5.2%, selling 1,243 shares and ending the quarter with 22,809 META shares worth about $16.8 million. [41] MarketBeat's summaries indicate that hedge funds and institutions collectively own almost 80% of Meta's float, suggesting that, while some funds are taking profits at current levels, institutional confidence remains broadly high. [42] Key Fundamental Drivers Going Into 2026 Beyond today's headlines, several structural themes will likely determine whether Meta's stock follows the bullish price targets or the bearish technical signals. 1. AI‑Driven Advertising and Llama Ecosystem Meta's AI‑powered ad suite—spanning Advantage+ campaigns, generative creative and automated targeting—is already a $60‑billion‑plus annualized business, according to recent earnings commentary cited by Rosenblatt's Barton Crockett. [43] If Meta can: keep lowering advertisers' cost per purchase , , deepen AI‑driven automation across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, and expand Llama‑based tools to third‑party developers, then the company could sustain 20%‑plus revenue growth while gradually absorbing its AI infrastructure spending. 2. AI Infrastructure Partnerships and Data Centers Meta is not going it alone on infrastructure. An October joint‑venture with funds managed by Blue Owl Capital will finance and operate the Hyperion data‑center campus in Louisiana, with Blue Owl owning 80% and Meta 20%. The project carries about $27 billion in total development costs, with Meta receiving a one‑time $3 billion cash distribution and entering into long‑term operating leases for the site. [44] Separately, Reuters reports that AI‑focused data‑center operator Nebius has signed a $3 billion AI‑infrastructure deal with Meta, alongside a $17 billion contract with Microsoft, highlighting the scale of spending across the ecosystem. [45] These arrangements help Meta spread capex and balance‑sheet risk while still securing the compute capacity needed for its AI ambitions. 3. Reality Labs and Wearable AI Reality Labs is still deeply loss‑making, but Meta clearly views it as the front line for AI‑first hardware, now reinforced by Alan Dye's appointment. [46] Success here would: give Meta a hardware beachhead similar to what Apple built with the iPhone and Watch, similar to what Apple built with the iPhone and Watch, strengthen its control over AI interfaces and mixed‑reality experiences, and and mixed‑reality experiences, and provide a second leg of growth beyond ads and messaging. Failure, on the other hand, would keep the unit a permanent drag on margins and invite comparisons to the metaverse overspend of 2021–2022. 4. Regulatory and Political Overhang From the new EU WhatsApp AI probe to Australia's teen social‑media ban, regulatory risk is not going away. [47] Investors will need to watch: whether the EU imposes interim measures that delay or re‑shape Meta's AI rollout on WhatsApp, [48] that delay or re‑shape Meta's AI rollout on WhatsApp, whether other countries emulate Australia's under‑16 ban, [49] and how future AI‑specific laws (including the EU AI Act and evolving safety frameworks) tighten obligations for large‑scale model providers. [50] Each new rule adds friction and potential cost; taken together, they could meaningfully shape Meta's long‑term margin profile. What META Investors Should Watch Next For traders and long‑term investors following Meta Platforms stock after today's news, here are the key checkpoints over the coming months: EU Antitrust Timeline Any announcement of formal charges or interim measures regarding WhatsApp's AI policy will be critical for sentiment, especially if it limits Meta's ability to make its own AI the default experience. [51] Regulatory Copycats If jurisdictions in Europe or North America move toward Australia‑style age‑limit laws, expect renewed scrutiny of engagement metrics and safety‑related capex. [52] AI Monetization Metrics Watch for updated figures on the run‑rate of AI ad products, advertiser adoption of Llama‑based tools, and any new disclosures on AI‑driven revenue mix. [53] Capex and Margin Guidance Upcoming earnings will likely update investors on 2026 capex and whether management still expects AI investments to be self‑funding via higher ad revenue and new services. [54] Hardware Roadmap Under Alan Dye New product announcements from Reality Labs—especially around next‑generation smart glasses or AR devices—could be a catalyst if they suggest a viable path to profitability. [55] Bottom Line On December 4, 2025, META stock sits in the crosshairs of conflicting forces: Bearish pressures from heavy AI capex, fresh EU antitrust scrutiny and a tightening global regulatory environment; pressures from heavy AI capex, fresh EU antitrust scrutiny and a tightening global regulatory environment; Bullish momentum from strong double‑digit revenue growth, a rapidly scaling AI advertising engine, a growing dividend, and broad Wall Street conviction that the shares are undervalued by 25–30% over a 12‑month horizon. Whether Meta becomes 'the next Google' for the AI era, as some analysts suggest, or remains a highly profitable but more volatile ad giant will depend on how well it converts today's massive infrastructure and product bets into sustainable, regulator‑friendly cash flows. [56] For now, investors should treat META as a high‑quality but high‑variance AI bellwether: richly scrutinized, richly valued by analysts, and sitting at the center of nearly every major debate about the future of social media, AI infrastructure and digital regulation. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or trading advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. 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