Meta has suspended internal research after preliminary findings indicated that Facebook may negatively impact users’ mental health. Newly unsealed court documents from a lawsuit filed by several U.S. school districts reveal that the company terminated the study when it discovered evidence suggesting that individuals who deactivated Facebook experienced reduced anxiety and depression. This research, known as Project Mercury, commenced in 2020 and involved collaboration with the survey group Nielsen to examine the effects of a one-week Facebook deactivation.
The documents assert that participants reported “lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness and social comparison” during the study. Rather than releasing these findings or pursuing further investigation, Meta reportedly shut down the project and later dismissed the results as being “tainted by the existing media narrative.” Some employees voiced concerns about the findings, with one anonymous researcher noting, “The Nielsen study does show causal impact on social comparison,” accompanied by an unhappy face emoji. Another staff member drew parallels to the tobacco industry’s historical suppression of research revealing the harms of smoking.
The lawsuit highlights a troubling pattern, asserting that despite internal evidence, Meta later informed Congress that it had no means to evaluate whether its platforms harm teenage girls. Attorneys representing the school districts argue that this conduct demonstrates that Meta concealed known risks from parents, educators, and young users.
In a statement released on Saturday, Meta spokesman Andy Stone contended that the study was halted due to “flawed methodology.” He emphasized that the company has dedicated over a decade to listening to parents and enhancing safety tools for teens. Stone further criticized the lawsuit, claiming it relies on “cherry-picked quotes and misinformed opinions.”
This recent development is part of a broader legal challenge initiated by the law firm Motley Rice. The firm is suing Meta, along with Google, TikTok, and Snapchat, on behalf of school districts nationwide, accusing these companies of neglecting the dangers their platforms pose to children. As of now, TikTok, Google, and Snapchat have not issued comments regarding the lawsuit.
The legal complaint also asserts that social media companies have encouraged underage usage, failed to mitigate harmful content, and attempted to persuade child-focused organizations to publicly endorse their platforms. Meta has requested that the court remove the documents from the record. A hearing on this matter is scheduled for January 26, 2024, in federal court in Northern California.
The implications of this lawsuit could significantly affect how social media platforms address mental health concerns and their responsibilities towards younger users.
