Meta reportedly plotted a “whisper strategy” to counter critic Jonathan Haidt

Meta discussed a “whisper strategy” to undermine social media critic Jonathan Haidt, court documents show, The Guardian reported.

The filings reveal that employees at the parent company of Facebook and Instagram considered ways to “get academic community to disavow” the US social psychologist. Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, has been cited as a key influence behind a global push for tighter online safety rules, including Australia’s recent under‑16 ban.

According to the documents, staff explored tactics to discredit Haidt’s work and diminish his standing among scholars. The internal deliberations suggest the company viewed his research as a threat to its interests and sought to shape the public conversation by quietly marginalising his voice.

Why it matters

The report highlights how a leading tech firm may attempt to silence an academic whose research has driven policy changes, raising questions about corporate influence on public debate.

Key details

Location

United States · Americas

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

29 Oct 2026, 22:50 IST

Key names

Jonathan Haidt, Meta, Facebook, Instagram

Section

Technology

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianMeta discussed ‘whisper strategy’ against social media critic Jonathan Haidt, files show 29 Oct, 22:50

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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