Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has stopped an internal study that suggested users who ceased using its platforms experienced reduced levels of depression and anxiety, as revealed in recent legal filings.
According to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Meta had been conducting a research project known as Project Mercury since late 2019. This study aimed to explore the influence of its apps on various aspects of users’ lives, including issues like polarization, news consumption, and overall well-being. However, it appears that initial findings indicated that individuals who took a week off from Facebook reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and lonely. The lawsuit claims Meta chose not to pursue these findings further, opting instead to discontinue the research.
In another twist, the legal documents include comments from some Meta researchers who appeared to liken social media usage to drug use. One researcher reportedly referred to Instagram as a “drug,” while another said that all social media platforms essentially act as promoters of such behavior. The comments, made during informal communications, were said to be sarcastic according to one of the involved parties.
The allegations go further, stating that Meta did not disclose the results of this study to the public and may have misled Congress about its knowledge of the issues. Some former employees have even raised questions about whether Meta’s conduct mirrors that of tobacco companies, which historically concealed harmful research findings.
In response, Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, vehemently denied these allegations, claiming they were based on selective quotes and misinterpretations. He defended the company’s track record over the last decade, highlighting efforts to address concerns raised by parents and introducing features aimed at protecting young users.
Meanwhile, this legal action is part of a broader multidistrict lawsuit including multiple plaintiffs, who argue that social media companies were aware of the mental health risks their platforms posed to young users but failed to take necessary precautions. Google, the parent company of YouTube, also rejected these claims, asserting that the lawsuit mischaracterizes how the platform operates, primarily as a streaming service rather than a traditional social network.
