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Meta bosses tried to smear academic and author who led global campaign highlighting damage of social media to young people's mental health
Meta staff planned to discredit professor Jonathan Haidt's mental health research through academic 'takedown' pieces, court documents reveal.
In brief
Meta staff planned to discredit professor Jonathan Haidt's mental health research through academic 'takedown' pieces, court documents reveal. Meta executives discussed recruiting researchers to undermine Professor Jonathan Haidt's credibility ahead of his book on social media's impact on youth mental health…
Meta bosses tried to smear academic
Meta bosses tried to smear academic and author who led global campaign highlighting damage of social media to young people's mental health.
Court documents show attempt
Court documents show Meta tried to persuade academic community to 'disavow' Professor Jonathan Haidt to turn scientific community against him.
Book The Anxious Generation
Professor Haidt's book The Anxious Generation explores mental health issues for young people.
Meta staff discussed recruiting researchers
Senior Meta staff discussed recruiting researchers to write 'takedown' pieces undermining Professor Haidt's credibility.
Professor Haidt's global campaign
Professor Haidt led global campaign highlighting damage to children's mental health caused by smartphones and social media.
Book became best-seller
Professor Haidt's book became a best-seller and influenced Australian government to implement social media ban for children.
Haidt briefed Whitehall officials
Professor Haidt briefed officials in Whitehall before similar move by former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Court documents reveal March 8 meeting
Minutes from March 8, 2023 meeting show Meta's goal to get academic community to disavow Haidt.
Curtiss Cobb's role
Curtiss Cobb, Meta's vice-president of research, discussed how to get academic community to disavow Haidt.
Strategy to enrage academics
Meta staff planned to 'enrage' academics against Haidt by whisper strategy to turn them against him.
Gelman to write takedown
Court documents mention getting Andrew Gelman, Columbia University professor, to write takedown piece.
Meta staff discussed discrediting work
Meta staff discussed how to discredit Professor Haidt's work through whisper strategy.
Haidt not surprised by remarks
Professor Haidt said he was 'not surprised' by remarks made about him in court documents.
Meta company behind Facebook
Meta owns Facebook and Instagram, which are platforms causing mental health concerns.
US school districts suing Meta
US school districts are suing Meta in court case over social media's impact on youth mental health.
Haidt's mental health campaign
Professor Haidt has led global campaign highlighting damage to children's mental health from social media.
The takeaway
Meta executives discussed recruiting researchers to undermine Professor Jonathan Haidt's credibility ahead of his book on social media's impact on youth mental health.
