Parental oversight over children’s accounts is a nice addition to social platforms as it can help prevent addiction among young users, but what if it only exists as filler and doesn’t actually curb children’s overuse of social media? It may seem surprising, but this is what has been revealed in an internal Meta study, known as “Project MYST.”
The research was conducted in collaboration with the University of Chicago. It found that parental supervision and controls, such as time limits and restricted access, have minimal impact on adolescents’ compulsive social media use.
It also indicated that teens who experience stressful life events are more likely to have difficulty moderating their social media habits.
Key findings from the Meta MYST Project
These revelations came to light during a recent trial in Los Angeles County, where the plaintiff, identified as Kaley, along with her mother, sued social media companies for creating “addictive and dangerous” products.
She claims in her lawsuit that these platforms contribute to anxiety, depression and other mental health problems among young users.
Kaley’s attorney referenced findings from the MYST Project, which concluded that parental involvement has little effect on teens’ attention to social media use, based on a survey of 1,000 teens and their parents.
The study also highlighted that both parents and teens agreed that there was no significant link between parental supervision and how teens interacted with social media.
The harsh truth indicates that tools such as parental controls built into platforms like Instagram are insufficient to prevent users from excessive use.
