# 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.
- Title: Meta bosses tried to smear academic and author who led global…
- Summary: Meta staff planned to discredit professor Jonathan Haidt's mental health research through academic 'takedown' pieces, court documents reveal. Meta executives…
- Keywords: meta, jonathan haidt, social media, mental health, youth, academic, takedown, book, anxious generation, us court, social media ban, whitehall
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16249779/Meta-bosses-tried-smear-academic-author.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-10-29T15:47:17+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: meta, jonathan haidt, social media, mental health, youth, academic, takedown, book, anxious generation, us court, social media ban, whitehall
## 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.
## Key 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.