An internal research project at Meta known as Project MYST found that parental supervision measures, including time limits and restricted access, had little effect on teens’ compulsive use of social media. The study, conducted with the University of Chicago, also concluded that teens who experienced stressful life events were less able to regulate their social media use.
Details about the research emerged during testimony in a social media addiction trial that began last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The plaintiff, identified as “KGM” or “Kaley,” along with her mother and other parties, alleges that social media companies created addictive and dangerous products that contributed to anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts among young users.
Kaley sued Meta, YouTube, ByteDance, and Snap. ByteDance and Snap settled before the trial began. The case is one of several major lawsuits this year that accuse social media companies of harming children. The outcomes could influence how these companies approach younger users and may prompt regulatory action.
In the jury trial now underway in Los Angeles, Kaley’s attorney cited Project MYST as evidence that Meta was aware of potential harms but did not make them public. The study’s name stands for Meta and Youth Social Emotional Trends. It surveyed 1,000 teens and their parents about social media habits.
According to testimony, the research found “parental and household factors have little association with teens’ reported levels of attentiveness to their social media use.” Both parents and teens reportedly agreed that there was no link between parental supervision and teens’ ability to moderate usage.
Lanier argued that if these findings are accurate, built-in parental controls in apps such as Instagram and smartphone time limits would not necessarily reduce overuse. The original complaint claims that social media platforms use algorithmic feeds, variable rewards, frequent notifications, and weak parental tools that encourage prolonged engagement.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, testified that he was not familiar with Project MYST, despite documents suggesting he approved the study. He said the company conducts many research projects and could not recall specific details beyond the study’s name.
The plaintiff’s attorney cited the research to argue that responsibility should not rest solely on parents. He noted that Kaley’s mother attempted to limit her daughter’s social media use, including taking away her phone at times.
The study also reported that teens who experienced adverse life events, such as family issues or bullying, showed lower levels of attentiveness to their social media use. Mosseri acknowledged that some users may turn to Instagram as an escape from difficult circumstances. However, he said Meta avoids the term addiction and instead uses “problematic use” to describe spending more time on the platform than users feel comfortable with.
Meta’s lawyers argued that the study focused on whether teens felt they were using social media excessively, not whether they were clinically addicted. They also suggested that personal circumstances, including family and school challenges, contributed to Kaley’s emotional struggles.
Mosseri confirmed during testimony that Project MYST’s findings were not published publicly and that no warnings were issued to parents or teens based on the research.