Meta is facing massive lawsuits from multiple US states against Facebook and Instagram regarding user protection issues, with claims reaching as high as $1.4 trillion. While this figure is close to Meta's market capitalization, the market hasn't priced it in based on the "huge compensation" logic; instead, the stock price has risen against the trend, indicating that investors are more focused on the final legal outcome of the case than on extreme scenarios.
What's truly noteworthy is the potential for industry rule changes this lawsuit might bring. If regulations further restrict the use of algorithms to enhance user engagement, especially design logic targeting underage users, the entire social media industry's monetization model may face adjustments.
For over a decade, platforms have built highly profitable business models based on user time, precise recommendations, and advertising algorithms. If compliance requirements increase, platforms like TikTok and Snap, which rely on growth from young users, may face higher regulatory costs, and the market may reassess their valuation multiples.
Meanwhile, the massive multimedia data accumulated by social media is also a crucial resource for AI training and commercialization. If data use is subject to stricter restrictions in the future, the path for technology companies to build AI capabilities and advertising systems using user content may also be affected. The impact of this lawsuit may not lie in the amount of the fines, but in its potential to redefine the value of data and attention on internet platforms.
