META, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been accused of suppressing research demonstrating that its platforms can harm users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a U.S. class action lawsuit by school districts.
Reuters reported on Sunday, the internal study, code-named “Project Mercury,” revealed that users who deactivated Facebook and Instagram for a week reported reductions in depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social comparison.
Rather than publishing the findings or pursuing further investigation, Meta reportedly terminated the project, citing concerns that the results were tainted by the “existing media narrative” surrounding the company.
Privately, however, employees assured then-head of global public policy Nick Clegg that the research conclusions were valid.
One staffer reportedly wrote, “The Nielsen study does show causal impact on social comparison,” while another warned that ignoring negative results resembled the tobacco industry hiding harmful research.
Despite evidence of a causal link between its platforms and negative mental health outcomes, Meta allegedly told Congress it could not quantify the harm caused to teenage girls.
In a statement, Meta spokesman Andy Stone said the study was halted due to methodological flaws and insisted the company has “listened to parents, researched issues that matter most, and made real changes to protect teens.”
The allegations form part of a broader legal challenge against Meta, TikTok, Google, and Snapchat, filed by the Motley Rice law firm on behalf of school districts nationwide.
The lawsuit asserts that social media companies deliberately concealed risks to children and teens while encouraging their use, failing to adequately address sexual abuse content, and attempting to influence child-focused organisations to publicly defend their products.
According to the filing, Meta intentionally designed youth safety features to be ineffective, delayed measures to prevent child predators, and maintained policies that required repeated warnings before removing offenders.
The documents allege that the company prioritised engagement and growth over child safety, with a 2021 text from CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating he would not focus on child safety “when I have a number of other areas I’m more focused on like building the metaverse.”
Meta disputes the claims. Stone described the lawsuit as relying on “cherry-picked quotes and misinformed opinions” and defended the effectiveness of the company’s teen safety measures.
He added that Meta’s policy is to remove accounts flagged for sex trafficking immediately and criticised attempts to unseal documents as overly broad.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for January 26 in the Northern California District Court. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny over social media companies’ responsibilities to protect young users amid mounting evidence of potential harm. - November 23, 2025
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