Newly revealed company records suggest that Meta halted internal research indicating that Facebook and Instagram could negatively affect users’ mental health. According to court filings from a class-action lawsuit brought by U.S. school districts, Meta allegedly suppressed evidence linking its platforms to increased depression, anxiety, loneliness and harmful social comparison.
The lawsuit cites a 2020 study known as Project Mercury, in which Meta researchers partnered with a survey firm to examine what happens when users take a one-week break from Facebook and Instagram. Participants who deactivated their accounts reportedly felt less depressed, less anxious, less lonely and were less likely to compare themselves to others.
Despite these results, Meta allegedly halted the research rather than publish or expand it. Internal discussions referenced in the filings suggest the company dismissed the findings due to the broader media scrutiny it was facing. Staff members, however, reportedly confirmed to a senior executive that the research conclusions were accurate. One researcher said the study demonstrated a clear causal link to social comparison, while another compared the decision to hide the findings to the tobacco industry’s suppression of health-risk data.
The lawsuit also claims that Meta told lawmakers it could not quantify whether its platforms harmed teenage girls—despite having access to the internal results. A Meta spokesperson said the study was discontinued due to “flawed methodology,” adding that “the full record will show that for over a decade, we have listened to parents, researched issues that matter most, and made real changes to protect teens.”
This allegation forms part of a broader legal action targeting several major social media companies for allegedly concealing the risks their platforms may pose to students, parents and educators. Other companies named in the case did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A court hearing is scheduled for January 26 in a Northern California district court. The case underscores growing concerns about the mental-health impact of social media on teenagers and raises ongoing questions about Meta’s transparency and accountability.
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