--- title: "Mark Zuckerberg Is Selflessly Building Yet Another Horrible Product Nobody Asked For" description: "The explosive popularity of prediction markets, spearheaded by Polymarket and Kalshi, has shocked experts, who are [warning of a surge in gambling addiction](). The platforms have massively lowered the barriers to entry for problem betting, allowing practically anybody to wager…" date: "2026-06-26" modified: "2026-06-26" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/mark-zuckerberg-meta-prediction-market-app" categories: - "Future Society" --- # Mark Zuckerberg Is Selflessly Building Yet Another Horrible Product Nobody Asked For ![A color treated photograph of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attending the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House.]() *Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images; Futurism* The explosive popularity of prediction markets, spearheaded by Polymarket and Kalshi, has shocked experts, who are [warning of a surge in gambling addiction](). The platforms have massively lowered the barriers to entry for problem betting, allowing practically anybody to wager their hard-earned cash on events ranging from the [outcomes of deadly wars]() to [who will win the World Cup](). Given all that controversy, maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — who [excels at bringing out]() the [absolute worst]() of [humanity]() — has directed his staff to create a similar betting app of their own, dubbed "Arena." As two employees with knowledge of the matter [told the *New York Times*](), users wouldn't be wagering real money, relying instead on a "video game-like points system." That makes it an even more baffling endeavor, considering the promise of getting rich quick is the only real reason prediction markets have become as popular as they are now. Meta didn't rule out allowing users to bet real money later down the road. However, the insider sources cautioned that the app is still in development and may never see the light of day. It's only the latest example of Zuckerberg desperately scrounging for new ideas to keep relevant in an industry that's rapidly changing. Its social media apps have long struggled with relevancy and user growth, despite still reaching billions of users around the world. Meanwhile, Meta's graveyard of ill-conceived products has become crowded, from a [botched cryptocurrency]() and paying celebrities [millions of dollars to turn them into AI chatbots]() to [cartoonized "metaverse" worlds filled with screaming children](). Beyond gambling, Meta is also trying to get an AI photo generating app off the ground, according to the *NYT*'s sources. But whether there's any appetite left for even more slop apps is dubious at best. It's not even the first time Meta has dabbled in the prediction space. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company launched "[Forecast]()," a crowdsourced prediction app that never really took off. Nobody knows if Meta's "Arena" app will fare any better, if it does end up launching. But without dangling the possibility of making a quick buck in front of its users' faces — which, to be clear, isn't something we would be encouraging in the first place — it's likely dead on arrival anyways. **More on Meta:** [*"Pure Advocacy-Driven Click Bait": Meta Furious Over Bombshell Smart Glasses Revelation*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()