Meta staff discussed campaign to discredit social media critic Jonathan Haidt
Newly filed court documents say Meta employees discussed a possible campaign to undermine social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, a prominent critic who links social media use to rising adolescent depression and anxiety. The notes suggest the company was concerned his views could shape public debate and future legal cases over the safety of its products for teenagers.
Meeting notes from March 2023 refer to turning academics against Haidt, getting the academic community to disavow him and encouraging media coverage of criticism. They also mention psychologist Jean Twenge and a possible critical article by someone who may have been Columbia professor Andrew Gelman. The document contains shorthand and typos, and it is unclear whether Meta acted on these ideas; the company had not immediately commented. Haidt said he was not surprised and described the notes as evidence of efforts to manipulate scientific debate.
In short
- Meta staff discussed ways to weaken Haidt’s influence.
- The notes were made in March 2023.
- It is unclear whether the ideas were put into practice.
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The case for
A company facing claims about harm to teenagers can reasonably scrutinise prominent critics and challenge their evidence, methods or conclusions; open academic and media debate may help the public assess contested claims. The notes record discussion rather than establish that a campaign was carried out, and criticism of Haidt would not by itself show an attempt to suppress debate.
The case against
Discussing ways to turn academics against Haidt, secure disavowals and encourage critical coverage could suggest an effort to weaken a critic’s standing rather than answer his arguments. If a company with a stake in the outcome sought to shape scientific and media debate this way, it could undermine trust in the independence of that debate, particularly given the potential effects on teenagers and legal scrutiny.
Explained simply
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist who has argued that the spread of smartphones and social media has contributed to worsening mental health among teenagers. His work has helped bring questions about young people’s online lives into public debate, alongside research by other psychologists, including Jean Twenge.
Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, platforms used by many teenagers. The company has faced scrutiny over whether its services can harm young users, including through lawsuits and proposals for tighter rules. Debate over the evidence matters because it can influence public policy, legal claims and how technology companies design their products.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Meta considered a ‘whisper strategy’ to turn academics against Jonathan Haidt”.