Meta’s Email Proposal and Legal Action on Teenager Protection

Email Proposal for Research on Loneliness and Compulsive Use

In April 2019, David Ginsberg, a Meta executive, sent a proposal to Mark Zuckerberg, suggesting research to reduce loneliness and compulsive use on Instagram and Facebook. In the email, Ginsberg highlighted the company’s scrutiny for problematic use and addiction issues, especially among teens. He requested 24 engineers, researchers, and other staff to address these concerns on Instagram due to a perceived deficit in this area.

Rejection of Funding for the Project

A week later, Susan Li, now the company’s CFO, informed Ginsberg that the project was not funded citing staffing constraints. Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, also declined to finance the project, leading to its abandonment.

Legal Action by Attorneys General

These email exchanges are a part of the evidence presented in lawsuits filed by 45 states and the District of Columbia since last year. The states accuse Meta of unfairly targeting teenagers and children on Instagram and Facebook while misleading the public about the risks involved. By adopting a legal strategy reminiscent of the government’s actions against Big Tobacco in the 1990s, the attorneys general aim to compel Meta to enhance protections for minors.

A New York Times analysis of the states’ court filings, including approximately 1,400 pages of company documents and correspondence submitted as evidence by the State of Tennessee, reveals how Zuckerberg and other Meta leaders consistently touted the safety of their platforms while downplaying risks to young users. This was despite employee appeals for stronger youth protections and additional staffing.