Meta Adds 60 Million Users, Increases AI Investment Spending

Meta has published its third-quarter performance update for 2025, demonstrating sustained growth across its platform ecosystem while signaling aggressive expansion in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The social media giant added 60 million new users during Q3, bringing its total user base across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads to 3.54 billion users. This steady growth trajectory continues despite market saturation in developed regions, driven primarily by user expansion in developing markets and the growing adoption of Threads.

Revenue Growth Driven by Advertising Dominance

Meta’s financial performance reflects robust advertising demand, with Q3 revenue reaching $51.24 billion—representing a 26% year-over-year increase. The company continues to rely heavily on its advertising business, which accounts for 97% of total revenue. However, emerging revenue streams including AI glasses sales and Meta Verified subscriptions are gradually diversifying the company’s income sources, signaling its transition toward hardware and premium services.

Massive AI Infrastructure Investment Ahead

Meta’s capital expenditure trajectory is accelerating significantly, with the company expecting 2026 investment growth to substantially exceed 2025 levels. CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously forecasted $65 billion in annual AI infrastructure spending, though current expectations suggest this figure may increase further. The company recently broke ground on a $1.5 billion data center facility in El Paso, Texas—Meta’s 29th U.S. data infrastructure development. These investments aim to support Meta’s superintelligence ambitions and power upcoming AR glasses initiatives planned for 2027 retail launch. However, Reality Labs continues posting significant losses, reporting a $4.4 billion loss in Q3 despite advancing hardware development.