Meta Considered a Campaign to Discredit a Critic of Social Media and Teen Mental Health
Meta reportedly considered using a “whisper strategy” to turn academics against social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, according to newly filed court documents.
The March 2023 discussion focused on Haidt, who testified before Congress in 2022 about his conclusions that social media contributes to rising adolescent depression and anxiety. At the time, he had not yet published The Anxious Generation, but he had begun sharing his theories and research on Substack.
The internal campaign proposal came as Meta faced increasing public pressure over the effects of social media on young people, along with an impending series of child-safety trials. The documents show that Meta discussed targeting Haidt’s credibility and influence among academics, though the available excerpt does not describe what action, if any, followed.
The episode highlights the tension between platforms facing scrutiny over youth safety and their broader relationships with researchers whose findings may support regulation or legal claims.