Meta Plot to Undermine Influential Author Revealed

Court documents have surfaced detailing internal discussions within Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, concerning strategies to undermine the academic work of author Jonathan Haidt. Staff allegedly considered a "whisper strategy" aimed at discrediting the social psychologist, whose book "The Anxious Generation" has influenced global debates on social media's impact on youth.

Minutes from a March 2023 meeting, contained in a legal filing, indicate discussions about how to "get the academic community to disavow Haidt." The minutes reportedly mention a goal to "enrage" academics so the media would find Haidt less credible, referring to this as a "below-the-line campaign."

The alleged plan also suggested commissioning someone to write a "takedown piece" on Haidt's research. Haidt's work posits that widespread smartphone use has led to a mental health crisis among young people, driving his advocacy for stricter regulations, including bans on social media for those under 16 and for smartphones in schools.

In response to the revelations, which emerged as part of litigation against Meta by school districts, Haidt expressed that he was "not surprised" by such discussions, commenting that companies sometimes target the messenger when unable to dispute evidence. Meta has been approached for comment.