Meta Platforms Inc.Youth-safety trial could force changes to core features, threatening business model.

Meta Platforms rose to $562.9725 Tuesday morning despite a youth-safety trial that strikes at the heart of its business model. Reuters said testimony is probing whether Meta put engagement growth ahead of protecting younger Facebook and Instagram users, and Meta denies the states' allegations. Meta's second-quarter revenue surged 28% to $60.8 billion as ad impressions jumped 14% and the average price per ad climbed 12%, but capital expenditures exploded to $31.08 billion, hammering free cash flow down to just $784 million. Meta still holds $90.26 billion in cash and marketable securities, yet its enormous AI buildout is consuming cash at a brutal pace. The real risk is a court order forcing changes to infinite scrolling, recommendation algorithms or youth-engagement features, and the $562.9725 share price sits 33.17% below the $842.41 GF Value estimate.
Meta Platforms Inc.Youth-safety trial could force changes to core features, threatening business model.