Zuck’s New Dangerous Experiment Could Break Social Media (And Meta’s Valuation)

Remember October 2021? Mark Zuckerberg skipped the stage altogether and opted for a painfully awkward virtual presentation, floating around a pixelated cartoon world like a knockoff Wii avatar. With a grin that screamed “trust me,” he unveiled the Metaverse as if it were the second coming of the internet. He even went all-in, renaming Facebook to Meta and planting a digital flag of VR dominance (it fell over). But here we are in 2025 (almost), and those million-dollar Metaverse land investors are probably still shaking their fists (and VR goggles) at the sky. But Zuckerberg’s not one to dwell on past flops… now, he’s flipping the script again. This time, he’s betting big on a new dangerous AI experiment.

Meta’s stock might be on a tear (up 69% this year), but the company isn’t coasting on its gains. Zuckerberg knows the social media landscape has shifted… especially with Facebook losing its teenage street cred faster than a dad in Crocs. Only 32% of teens use Facebook now, down from 71% in 2014, according to Pew Research. (Facebook is where young people go to friend their grandparents.) So what’s Zuck’s new master plan? AI-generated “digital users,” of course. Think bots, but on steroids. Meta’s Vice President of Generative AI, Connor Hayes, recently spilled the dirty details: these AI users will have bios, profile pics, and the ability to generate and share content. So I guess your next Instagram follower might be a literal algorithm? Sounds legit.

“They’ll function just like human users,” Hayes says. “That’s where we see all of this going.” Sounds futuristic, right? It’s also kind of terrifying. I mean, bots taking over your feed, flawlessly curated to keep you scrolling (and spending your life savings on stuff you don’t need) 24/7 doesn’t exactly scream “progress.” (Unless, of course, your idea of progress is an AI influencer convincing you to buy a Temu knockoff golf simulator.) Let’s just call it what it is: Meta’s shift to AI users is a hope and a prayer to stay relevant in a world obsessed with TikTok dances and BeReal authenticity. The company is pumping cash into AI tech, with 2024’s capital expenditure ballooning to $38-$40 billion. For 2025, analysts like Brian White predict this could jump to $53 billion. Why? Because AI doesn’t run on Zuck’s eternal optimism… it runs on massive data centers and a cash flow that could fund America’s Social Security system.

Despite the crazy spending, Meta’s profits are holding strong. Analysts expect a 2024 EPS of $23.17, up from $18.93 last year, with a free cash flow margin nearing 30%. Wall Street’s still bullish, with a consensus price target of $664… an 11% bump from where it’s sitting now. Meta’s AI-powered dream comes with baggage. Industry experts warn that hyper-personalized bots could outcompete human influencers and reshape social media virality. But they also raise ethical red flags. How do you regulate bots that never sleep, feel, or stop pushing engagement metrics… even if it’s harmful content? Seems like a horrible idea to me.

If Zuckerberg can thread the needle, this could be the breakthrough that redefines Meta’s place in the tech world. If not? Well, let’s just say it might be another bold idea that lands in the digital graveyard alongside all those unsold Metaverse plots.

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Stock.News has positions in Meta.