Of course Meta thinks gambling is the future

Meta is, by and large, a company built on other companies’ ideas. It has almost perfected the strategy: wait for a new platform or social mechanic to take off, then either buy or clone it, put it next to Meta’s unmatched user base and advertising engine, and watch the money pile up. Well, the next big thing appears to be turning everything into gambling. So why wouldn’t Meta make a Polymarket?

On this episode of The Vergecast, David and Nilay discuss the reported prediction market app being built inside Meta, plus the company’s onslaught of other news this week — and its massive, apparently increasing morale problems. Nilay’s at Cannes Lions in France this week, where Meta’s advertising prowess is on full display, and yet it also feels like Meta is in crisis. So which is it? And what is your Facebook feed about to become?