Meta’s ‘Project MYST’ revealed limits of parental controls in curbing teen use

An internal study conducted by Meta Platforms found that parental supervision and household controls may have little effect on teens’ compulsive social media use, according to testimony in an ongoing trial in Los Angeles.

The research project, dubbed “Project MYST” and conducted in partnership with the University of Chicago, surveyed 1,000 teenagers and their parents. 

The study concluded that “parental and household factors have little association with teens’ reported levels of attentiveness to their social media use.” 

In practical terms, measures such as screen-time limits, app restrictions, or general supervision showed no meaningful link to whether teens moderated their use.

The findings surfaced during a jury trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where a plaintiff identified as Kaley is suing Meta along with YouTube. 

Claims against ByteDance, owner of TikTok, and Snap Inc. were settled prior to trial.

The lawsuit has alleged social media companies created addictive products that harmed young users. 

During testimony, Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, said he was not familiar with details of Project MYST.

The study also found teens experiencing adverse life events — such as family instability or school harassment — were more likely to struggle with moderating their social media use. 

Meta has said it prefers the term “problematic use” rather than addiction, while its lawyers argue parents and broader life circumstances play a significant role in teens’ emotional well-being.