In recent years, Meta has faced increased scrutiny regarding the negative impact of social media—particularly Facebook and Instagram—on the mental health and wellness of teens and children. Faced with a growing push to do something, Meta sprang into action… to strategize on how to undermine its biggest critic.

According to recently filed court documents in an ongoing legal challenge brought against Meta and other social media giants, it appears that Meta considered launching a “whisper strategy” to discredit Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and the author of “The Anxious Generation,” a book that argues smartphones and social media have adversely impacted young people, leading to deteriorating mental health and contributing to a spike in teen anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

Within that document is a section labeled “Well-being Meeting Sound-check Notes,” which appears to be a running collection of shorthand notes taken from a meeting seemingly held on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, and shows a team within Meta considering how to deal with Haidt, who at the time had just recently launched a Substack to expand on his research and share thoughts on news relevant to his work.

” They acknowledge within the notes that Haidt’s research is likely to feature prominently in any legal actions against Meta on the topic of children’s mental health, so there is a sense of urgency to seemingly start the process of discrediting him. In the same set of notes, they describe a “whisper strategy” rather than a direct response, hoping that the doubt sown about the research will make its way into the media.

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