Meta is facing the largest lawsuit in its history in court: the end of addictive algorithms?

If you have used social networks like Facebook or Instagram for years, you will have already noticed that in recent years Mark Zuckerberg’s company has redesigned the user experience to force the display of content outside of our contacts on a continuous basis.

Both social networks emerged as a way to establish contact with friends, family and acquaintances, or to share photos with closed groups, but Nowadays they have become environments with infinite scroll and very aggressive algorithms that seek to maximize addiction.

In Europe, the European Commission is already investigating Meta’s non-compliance with regulations over this issue, but it is in the United States where the foundations are being laid for a barrage of lawsuits that It could end the multinational as we know it.

29 states sue Meta for its addictive algorithms and damage to the mental health of minors

This week, a federal trial against Meta will begin in California, more specifically in Oakland, due to accusations of promoting addiction and harming the mental health of young people. The plaintiffs are neither individuals nor associations, but are nothing more and nothing less than 29 states have taken Meta before the judge.

In addition to promoting addiction and affecting the health of minors, states such as California or Colorado accuse Zuckerberg’s company of deceive their users about the security of your applications, deliberately designed to cause addiction and violate the children’s privacy protection law.

The fine could amount to 1.4 billion dollars, almost the stock market value of Meta

The trial will last a month and a half. In it, Meta will face requests for compensation that could exceed the 1.4 trillion dollars, and here we are talking about billions of the international system, that is, American trillions. The figure requested by the states is not known, but that is the estimate made by the social network company itself.

Although Meta denies the accusations, indicating that they are unfounded and even saying that they are extravagant, and that they “strive to protect teenagers,” the truth is that you only have to use the services that Instagram and Facebook have become for a few minutes to see that the plaintiffs are not far off the mark.

In any case, if convicted and forced to pay the large fines, we would be talking about a very high amount that would put the company in serious trouble. To give us an idea, Meta’s income as a whole, in 2025, was $201 billion, and its stock market valuation is less than $1.5 trillion, almost the amount of compensation they would have to face.

It must be taken into account that this fine is an estimate of the Goal itself and is based on the amounts initially requested by the plaintiffs, so it is logical that the final fine, if imposed, would be considerably lower.

In any case, the precedents of other similar trials (on a smaller scale) have not been favorable for the multinational.

If Meta is found guilty, we could see the beginning of the end of addictive algorithms on networks

However, if Meta is found guilty, it will set a very important precedent that could lead to numerous chain lawsuits. This, beyond the economic damage for the company, could make both Facebook and Instagram, as well as other social networks, look forced to eliminate these types of addictive algorithms and maybe then the Internet will be a place again, at least a little better.