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Meta bosses plotted a 'takedown' of the author who inspired social media bans for children, US court documents show

A child using social media on a tablet. Court documents show Meta executives plotted to discredit Professor Jonathan Haidt, whose research shaped Australia's ban on children using social media platforms.
A child using social media on a tablet. Court documents show Meta executives plotted to discredit Professor Jonathan Haidt, whose research shaped Australia's ban on children using social media platforms.
Professor Jonathan Haidt, the New York University social psychologist whose work directly shaped Australia's social media ban for children, and who said he was "not surprised" by the revelations in the court documents.
Professor Jonathan Haidt, the New York University social psychologist whose work directly shaped Australia's social media ban for children, and who said he was "not surprised" by the revelations in the court documents.

Court documents filed in a US lawsuit brought by school districts against Meta reveal that senior executives plotted to recruit academics to write 'takedown' pieces against Professor Jonathan Haidt, the New York University social psychologist behind the bestselling book 'The Anxious Generation'. Minutes from a March 2023 internal meeting show Meta's then vice-president of research, Curtiss Cobb, asked how to make Haidt appear 'not credible' to the media without a 'loud strategy'. Haidt said he was 'not surprised' by the revelations and has continued to campaign globally against smartphones in children's hands.

The meeting minutes ask: 'Can't co-opt them, so how do we enrage them... so the media finds him not credible.'

Haidt's work directly shaped Australia's social media ban for children and influenced Whitehall briefings before a similar move was announced in the UK.

The documents emerged from a coalition of US school districts suing Meta over the harm its platforms cause young people.

MoreThe GuardianMeta discussed ‘whisper strategy’ against social media critic Jonathan Haidt, files showDaily Mail NewsMeta bosses tried to smear academic and author who led global campaign highlighting damage of social media to young people's mental health, court documents showThe TimesMeta plotted ‘takedown’ of author who inspired social media bans
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