Legal pressure on Meta intensified this week after newly unsealed court filings alleged that the company halted internal research that indicated potential harm from its social media platforms. The documents, tied to ongoing litigation involving user mental health impacts, describe internal studies that reportedly flagged risks to teenagers and young adults, along with recommendations that were never fully adopted.

The filing claims Meta paused or deprioritised several projects that explored how Instagram, Facebook and other services might contribute to negative outcomes such as anxiety, addiction-like behaviour and unhealthy social comparison. According to the allegations, some findings were considered too sensitive or reputationally risky to advance.

The claims echo earlier revelations about Meta’s internal awareness of platform effects, igniting renewed debate over how the company handles research that challenges its public messaging. Critics argue that if Meta intentionally slowed or buried studies indicating user harm, it could bolster the case that the company prioritised growth metrics over safety.

The timing also heightens political attention, as U.S. lawmakers continue pushing for stricter regulation of platform algorithms and child-safety standards. Several senators have already called for deeper investigation into whether Meta shielded critical information from the public, regulators or its own oversight teams.

Meta has not publicly responded to the specific allegations in the filing, but the company has long maintained that it invests heavily in safety research and dispute claims that it suppresses unfavourable findings.

The case now adds fresh weight to ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech’s internal practices, with potential implications for future regulation and legal accountability across the industry.

Axis Signal will continue tracking developments as the court proceedings move forward.