Meta’s own research found parental supervision doesn’t really help curb teens’ compulsive social media use

Source: TechCrunch

Study Overview

An internal Meta research project, Project MYST (Meta and Youth Social Emotional Trends survey), was conducted in partnership with the University of Chicago. The study surveyed 1,000 teens and their parents about social‑media use. Its main conclusions were:

• Parental supervision and household factors have little association with teens’ reported attentiveness to their social‑media use.
• Both parents and teens agreed that there was no correlation between reported parental supervision and teens’ self‑reported attentiveness or capability to moderate use.
• Teens who experienced greater adverse life events (e.g., alcoholic parents, school harassment, other trauma) reported lower attentiveness to their social‑media use, suggesting higher risk of compulsive behavior.

If accurate, these findings imply that built‑in parental controls (e.g., Instagram’s controls, smartphone time‑limit features) may not meaningfully reduce compulsive use.

Legal Context

The study was highlighted during testimony in the social‑media addiction trial that began in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The plaintiff, identified as “KGM” or “Kaley,” alleges that Meta, YouTube, ByteDance (TikTok), and Snap created “addictive and dangerous” products that contributed to anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, self‑harm, suicidal ideation, and related harms.

• Snap and TikTok settled their claims before the trial started (see TechCrunch coverage: Snap settlement, TikTok settlement).
• Kaley’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, cited Project MYST as evidence that Meta was aware of these harms yet did not publicize them.

Testimony Highlights

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri

• Stated he was not familiar with Project MYST, despite a document suggesting he approved the study.
• Acknowledged that adverse life experiences can drive teens to use Instagram as an escape, noting: “There’s a variety of reasons this can be the case. One I’ve heard often is that people use Instagram as a way to escape from a more difficult reality.”
• Clarified that Meta avoids labeling overuse as “addiction,” preferring the term “problematic use,” defined as “spending more time on Instagram than they feel good about.”

Meta’s Defense

• Argued the study was narrowly focused on teens’ perception of overuse, not on clinical addiction.
• Emphasized parental responsibility and external stressors (e.g., divorce, abusive parents, bullying) as primary drivers of negative emotional states.
• Pointed to Kaley’s personal circumstances (divorced parents, abusive father, school bullying) as illustrative of these factors (CNN report).

Implications

• The jury’s interpretation of Project MYST and related testimonies could shape future regulatory actions and company policies regarding younger users.
• Mosseri noted that the study’s findings have not been published publicly and no warnings were issued to teens or parents.

Meta has been asked for comment.