A new filing in a class action case has raised fresh questions about Meta Platforms (META). The case involves school districts around the U.S. that claim major social apps have hurt student health. The filing includes internal notes that point to research Meta ran in 2020. The study was called Project Mercury. It worked with the survey firm Nielsen to see what happened when people took a short break from Facebook and Instagram.
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First, the filing says users who left the apps for one week felt less strain linked to mood and peer pressure. Next, the filing says staff told senior leaders that the study was sound. Later, the project was stopped. The filing says the move came after Meta claimed the study faced bias due to public views on its apps. Meta has said the work ended due to weak methods. Moreover, the firm says it has added new tools to aid teen safety.
In the meantime, META shares rose modestly by 0.87% on Friday, closing at $594.25.
Wider Claims Across Major Apps
The same filing also lists claims against Google (GOOGL), TikTok, and Snap (SNAP). The school districts say the firms hid known risks. The claims cover teen use, child safety, and the way the apps use prompts that keep young users on the screen. Furthermore, the filing says Meta delayed work on tools that block contact from adults who try to reach minors. The filing also says some safety tools did not gain widespread use because they were hard to find.
In addition, the filing says TikTok tried to shape the view of a child and parent group after giving it funds. The group did not respond to the filing. The firms named in the case have said they work to block child harm and keep young users safe. Meta says the claims lift lines out of context. The firm also says it removes sex trafficking accounts when they are flagged.
What Comes Next
The court will review the request to unseal the cited internal Meta files on January 26. The filing itself is not public yet. Even so, the case adds stress to a long debate on how social apps guide teen use. It also raises new points for investors who track user growth, trust, and rules. As the case moves ahead, the firms may face more data requests. Those steps may reveal more about how the apps shape teen habits, and that may guide how the market views long-term risk.
What Is the Price Target for META Stock?
Turning to the Street’s analysts’ view, Meta Platforms boasts a Strong Buy consensus rating. The average META stock price target is $839.23, implying a 41.23% upside from the current price.
