Meta discussed attacking Jonathan Haidt — now even his haters are annoyed

<figure> <img alt="Mark Zuckerberg seen through the window of a black SUV." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/STKS507_FTCxMETA_ANTITRUST_CVIRGINIA_4_F.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Three years ago, Meta apparently considered a plan to turn public opinion against one of its most influential opponents, Jonathan Haidt. But since the proposal was revealed in court filings last month, it's backfired. In fact, if there's one thing <em>Anxious Generation</em> author Haidt and his critics can agree on, it's being mad at Meta.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Recent court filings in California revealed that Meta employees had discussed in 2023 a "<a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1020012/meta-jonathan-haidt-social-media-mental-health">Whisper strategy</a>" to "turn academics against Haidt," who would soon publish a bestselling book arguing that platforms like Meta's were hurting kids. Haidt had spent years popularizing his theory that social media and smartpho …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1032645/jonathan-haidt-critics-response-meta">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>