The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday, March 31, edition that Meta started the year strong as a top Big Tech stock, but concerns over legal risks and high artificial intelligence spending led to an 11-per-cent decline last week. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post reports that Meta shares dropped 18 per cent this month, marking their worst performance since October, 2022, when the company provided a disappointing revenue outlook and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg urged investors to be patient with metaverse investments. Today, Meta is de-emphasizing the metaverse to focus on AI. But the concerns about runaway spending have only grown. As well, there is a rising existential risk for the company after a jury in New Mexico found that Meta misled teenagers in the state about the safety of its social networks, and that Meta and Alphabet were found liable in a trial related to social media addiction. Meta stock has lost $310-billion (U.S.) in market capitalization in March alone. Wall Street is now grappling with the possibility that social media companies could face a similar risk to the shrinking of the tobacco industry following stronger smoking regulations, though many say it is too early to tell.