Photo credit: ANIMeta is reportedly exploring a new standalone app that could place it in one of the internet’s fastest-growing categories: prediction markets. According to reports, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has directed a small team to build an experimental platform internally known as Arena, which would allow users to predict future outcomes in a format similar to platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi.The project remains under development and may never launch publicly. However, its existence offers a glimpse into how Meta is looking beyond Facebook and Instagram as it searches for the next wave of online engagement and digital communities.Key TakeawaysMeta is reportedly developing a standalone prediction markets app internally called Arena.The app could compete with rapidly growing platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi.Arena may initially use a points-based system instead of real-money betting.The project is part of Meta’s broader effort to explore new standalone apps beyond Facebook and Instagram.Prediction markets are growing rapidly but also attracting increased regulatory scrutiny.Meta wants a place in one of the internet’s fastest-growing categoriesPrediction markets have emerged as one of the most talked-about corners of the internet, allowing users to forecast outcomes ranging from sporting events and elections to entertainment awards and economic developments. Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi have attracted significant attention over the past two years, turning what was once a niche activity into a mainstream online phenomenon.According to reports, Zuckerberg recently tasked a small team at Meta with building a competing product. The app, internally referred to as Arena, would function independently from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Rather than immediately offering traditional betting, the platform is expected to rely on a points-based system similar to video games, though reports suggest Meta has not completely ruled out the possibility of introducing real-money wagering in the future.Meta reportedly sees an opportunity to use its massive ecosystem of social platforms to drive users toward Arena if the product eventually launches. While the company has not publicly commented on the project, insiders reportedly describe it as both experimental and strategically important.Meta is searching for the next big user behaviour shiftThe Arena project reflects a broader effort inside Meta to identify emerging online habits before they become mainstream. While Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp continue to attract enormous audiences, company executives are reportedly exploring new formats that could create additional engagement opportunities beyond traditional social networking.Meta’s platforms collectively attract more than 3.56 billion daily users, but the company is increasingly facing questions about how much additional growth can come from its existing products. As user behaviour evolves, Meta appears eager to experiment with entirely new categories rather than relying solely on updates to its established platforms.Arena is reportedly one of several standalone products being explored internally. Another project, called Meta Photos, is said to focus on creating new forms of AI-generated media. The efforts suggest Meta is increasingly willing to test products outside its core social networking ecosystem in search of future growth opportunities.A familiar Zuckerberg strategy is taking shape againOver the years, Zuckerberg has honed Meta's success strategy around the premise of spotting fast trends and acting quickly. From adding features to building completely new apps, Meta has, at times, rushed into areas first dominated by rivals. So far, this has met with uneven success in the case of standalone apps.Among the New Product Experimentation apps tried over the years are those for podcasts, travel, dating and music discovery – many of which were shelved because they couldn’t attract many customers or users.Meta has consistently struggled to persuade people to install and use new stand-alone apps. But they may see another chance as with prediction markets that could bring customers to the company given current strong consumer interest and increasing visibility in real world life.Prediction markets are attracting attention - and scrutinyPrediction markets have surged in popularity, becoming a business giant, with Kalshi and Polymarket producing around $50bn of online trading for the sector in 2025 alone and more than $130bn to date in 2026. This increase in popularity has attracted new entrants to the market - such as bookmakers, crypto platforms and media firms – looking to generate new revenues. In order to earn profit on these markets, operators typically extract commission on trades made on their platforms, making it a money-making prospect for successful platforms.However, a growing regulatory and legal cloud hangs over the market with claims of insider trading on the markets and individuals using non-public information to effect trades, with federal prosecutors recently indicting an individual in the elite US Special Forces for insider trading based on information related to an operation in Venezuela.In addition, senator Richard Blumenthal lambasted Meta's recently reported plans with reports suggesting that Meta's model of monetising users through digital-addiction is increasingly its sole business focus.Arena may still be years away, but Meta’s interest is clearThis is not Meta’s first experiment with prediction markets. In 2020, the company launched Forecast, a crowdsourced prediction platform designed to help people make forecasts during the Covid-19 pandemic. Forecast used a points-based system and positioned itself as a tool for collective knowledge sharing. The product was eventually shut down in 2022.The current Arena project appears to revisit some of those ideas at a time when prediction markets have become significantly more popular and commercially attractive. Even so, people familiar with the project caution that it remains under development and may never reach the public.Whether Arena launches or not, the project highlights how Meta is continuing to search for new forms of online participation beyond traditional social networking. As user behaviour evolves, Zuckerberg appears determined to ensure Meta is present wherever the next major internet trend emerges.Frequently Asked Questions1. What is Meta’s Arena app?Arena is a reported internal Meta project focused on prediction markets, allowing users to forecast future outcomes through a standalone application.2. How would Arena differ from traditional betting platforms?Reports suggest Arena may initially use a points-based system instead of real-money wagering, making it more similar to a prediction game than a conventional betting platform.3. Why is Meta interested in prediction markets?Prediction markets have become one of the fastest-growing online categories, attracting billions of dollars in trading activity and growing mainstream attention.4. Has Meta tried prediction products before?Yes. Meta previously launched a prediction platform called Forecast in 2020 before discontinuing it in 2022.5. Is Arena officially confirmed for launch?No. Reports indicate the project remains experimental and Meta has not confirmed whether it will eventually be released to the public.end of article