Court documents filed in a US lawsuit have revealed that employees of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, discussed a “whisper strategy” to discredit social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, whose book The Anxious Generation helped tip debate about online safety towards more stringent measures. Meeting minutes from early 2023 show staff discussing how to “get the academic community to disavow Haidt” and turn other academics against him.
The documents were included in a recent court filing as part of litigation brought by school districts suing Meta. Haidt's book, published in 2024, argues that widespread use of smartphones has caused a mental health crisis for young people. His book helped tip debate about online safety towards more stringent measures, including an under-16 social media ban in Australia. In the United Kingdom, then health secretary Wes Streeting asked Haidt to address officials on a possible social media ban for under-16s.
The minutes, titled "Well-being Meeting Sound-check Notes", detail a discussion on 8 March 2023 about the company's response to a Substack article in which Haidt reviewed academic research. The notes attribute the goal to Curtiss Cobb, then vice-president of research: "how do we get the academic community to disavow Haidt. Can't co-opt them, so how do we enrage them … so the media finds him not credible." The notes add: "Not thinking about this as a loud strategy. A below-the-line campaign." They also suggest asking a person identified as "Gellman" to write "a takedown piece".
The source does not make clear whether Meta acted on the ideas. In a statement to tech news site The Verge, Haidt said he was "not surprised" by the discussions. "When companies can't dispute the evidence, they go after the messenger," he said.
Andrew Gelman, a professor of statistics and political science at Columbia University who has been critical of Haidt's work, wrote in a blog post this week that he had “never been hired by Facebook to do a hit job on Jonathan Haidt”. Gelman said he had received money from Mark Zuckerberg's company in the past on a “no-strings” basis and had never been asked by Meta to look at social media's impact on teenagers' health.
Meta has been approached for comment by The Guardian.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The documents provide direct insight into how Meta considered undermining a prominent academic critic, raising questions about the company's approach to independent research.
- The revelations come as part of a lawsuit by US school districts that could set a precedent for holding social media companies legally responsible for harm to young users.
- Haidt's work has already influenced policy in Australia and the UK; the disclosure may affect public trust in tech companies' handling of youth mental health.
Background
Jonathan Haidt's 2024 book "The Anxious Generation" argues that the widespread use of smartphones and social media has triggered a mental health crisis among young people. The book has been highly influential, contributing to Australia's decision to ban social media for under-16s and prompting UK health secretary Wes Streeting to ask Haidt to advise on a potential ban. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has faced multiple lawsuits over the impact of its platforms on young users, including the school district case from which these documents emerged.
Key Perspectives
Meta (internal meeting minutes): Company staff discussed a "whisper strategy" and "below-the-line campaign" aimed at getting the academic community to disavow Haidt and making his arguments appear less credible.
Jonathan Haidt: Said he was "not surprised" by the discussions. "When companies can't dispute the evidence, they go after the messenger," he told The Verge.
Andrew Gelman: Denied being hired for a "hit job", stating he had received "no-strings" funding from Meta and was never asked to study social media's effects on teenagers.
What to Watch
- Whether Meta disputes the accuracy or scope of the documents as the court case proceeds.
- How the disclosure affects public and political momentum behind youth social media bans.
- The potential for further internal communications to surface through ongoing litigation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMeta staff discussed a “whisper strategy” to discredit Jonathan Haidt.World news | The Guardian: “Meta staff discussed deploying a “whisper strategy” to undermine the influential US academic”
- SupportedInternal documents show discussion of getting academics to disavow Haidt and turning other academics against him.World news | The Guardian: “staff discussed how to “get the academic community to disavow Haidt””
- Partly supportedThe meeting notes attribute the goal to Curtiss Cobb, then Meta vice-president of research.World news | The Guardian: “Minutes from a meeting on 8 March 2023 mention “Curtiss”, an apparent reference to Meta’s then vice-president of research, Curtiss Cobb.”
- SupportedThe notes say, “how do we get the academic community to disavow Haidt. Can't co-opt them, so how do we enrage them … so the media finds him not credible.”World news | The Guardian: ““Curtiss’s goal for this work: how do we get the academic community to disavow Haidt. Can’t co-opt them, so how do we enrage them … so the media finds him not credible.””
- SupportedThe notes say, “Not thinking about this as a loud strategy. A below-the-line campaign.”World news | The Guardian: ““Not thinking about this as a loud strategy. A below-the-line campaign.””
- Partly supportedGelman wrote that he had “never been hired by Facebook to do a hit job on Jonathan Haidt.”World news | The Guardian: “he was “never hired by Facebook to do a hit job on Jonathan Haidt””
- SupportedHaidt said he was “not surprised” by the discussions and said, “When companies can't dispute the evidence, they go after the messenger.”World news | The Guardian: “Haidt said he was “not surprised” by the discussions. “When companies can’t dispute the evidence, they go after the messenger,” he said.”
- SupportedThe documents were included in a recent filing in litigation brought by school districts suing Meta.World news | The Guardian: “which were revealed in a court filing as part of a litigation brought by school districts suing the company.”
- SupportedHaidt’s book argues that widespread smartphone use has caused a mental health crisis among young people.World news | The Guardian: “Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation argued that widespread use of smartphones has caused a mental health crisis for young people.”
- SupportedHaidt’s book helped tip debate about online safety towards stricter measures, including an under-16 social media ban in Australia.World news | The Guardian: “a book that helped tip the debate about online safety towards more stringent measures such as the under-16 ban in Australia.”
- SupportedThe minutes do not make clear whether Meta acted on the ideas.World news | The Guardian: “It is not clear whether Meta acted on the ideas outlined in the minutes.”
- Partly supportedThe Guardian approached Meta for comment.World news | The Guardian: “Meta has been approached for comment.”
