Court Filings Reveal Meta Considered Strategy to Undermine Academic Critic Jonathan Haidt
Recent court filings in California have revealed that Meta employees discussed a 'Whisper strategy' in 2023 aimed at turning academics against social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. The proposed plan sought to undermine Haidt’s influential arguments regarding the link between social media use and declining teen mental health, specifically through 'below-the-line' campaigns intended to solicit takedown pieces from researchers. The revelation has triggered a backlash not only from Haidt but also from his academic critics, who have publicly distanced themselves from Meta. Prominent scholars, including Candice Odgers and danah boyd, issued statements asserting that their critiques of Haidt’s work are independent and were not influenced or funded by the tech giant. While it remains unclear if Meta fully implemented these strategies, the disclosure has intensified scrutiny regarding the company's ethics during ongoing litigation over platform safety.
Tickers: $META
Topics: corporate strategy litigation mental health social media regulation