According to Facebook's internal research, 1 out 8 Facebook users experienced compulsive use of social media that interfered with their sleep and work. This is what the social network calls problematic use, but it is more commonly known by the name internet addiction.
One team that was focused on user wellbeing worked for the social media platform. They suggested ways to reduce problematic use. Some of these were implemented. According to the WSJ, the company closed down the team in 2019.
Pratiti Raychoudhury is a vice president for research at Meta, Facebook's new parent company. She writes in a blog that the WSJ misrepresented their research. This claim was made by the company about other articles it produced based on Facebooks internal documents.
Raychoudhury says that the company has been supportive and engaged throughout our multiyear effort, which aims to better understand and empower those who use our services to manage their problematic use. Raychoudhury says that problematic use doesn't necessarily mean addiction. The company offers features that help users manage their experience on its apps and services.
This report is part of a continuing series by the WSJ called "Facebook Files". It is based on internal documents that Frances Haugen provided, which suggests that Facebook knows about the potential problems its platforms can create. For example, one set of reports suggested that Facebook knew its Instagram platform was harmful for teens. Haugen testified before Congress October 5th that Facebook was internally dysfunctional and would not change its behavior without external regulators.
