Final Research Output

1. Executive Summary of the Discrepancy: A direct, side-by-side comparison of specific internal statements from Meta documents versus their public communications on the topic of teen mental health.
2. Causal Analysis of Addictive Design: A detailed breakdown of 3-5 specific Instagram design features, explaining precisely how each one contributes to addictive behavior loops in teens.
3. Ethical Judgment Framework: A formal ethical analysis of Meta's decision-making, using a recognized framework to evaluate the trade-offs made between user well-being and corporate profit.
4. Actionable Recommendations (Three-Tiered):
   • For Product Teams (Internal): Specific, actionable modifications to the identified addictive design features to mitigate harm.
   • For Policymakers (External): Recommendations for regulatory guardrails or oversight needed to protect teen users.
   • For Parents & Teens (Public): A guide to understanding the platform's manipulative mechanics and strategies for healthier usage.

Recommended Analytical Frameworks

Framework Explanation

• The Hook Model: Developed by Nir Eyal, this framework explains how products create habit-forming behaviors. It consists of a four-step loop: 1. Trigger (what prompts the user to act), 2. Action (the behavior done in anticipation of a reward), 3. Variable Reward (the unpredictable reward that keeps users coming back), and 4. Investment (a user contribution that loads the next trigger).
• Stakeholder Analysis: This is a classic business tool used to identify all parties affected by a business or its actions. For each stakeholder, you identify their interests, influence, and how they are impacted. This maps the ethical landscape.
• Deontology vs. Utilitarianism: These are two major ethical theories. Utilitarianism judges an action based on its consequences—the best action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. Deontology judges an action based on whether it adheres to a set of rules or duties (e.g., a "duty of care"), regardless of the outcome.

Applicability to Your Problem

• The Hook Model is perfectly suited to deconstruct how Instagram's design contributes to addiction. It moves the analysis from a vague claim ("Instagram is addictive") to a specific, mechanical explanation ("The 'like' count is a variable reward that...").
• Stakeholder Analysis is crucial for understanding the ethical tension. It forces you to look beyond the company-user relationship and consider the interests of parents, advertisers, regulators, and society at large, clarifying who bears the costs and who reaps the benefits of Meta's choices.
• Applying Deontology vs. Utilitarianism provides a structured way to pass judgment. You can analyze if Meta violated a fundamental duty to protect children (Deontology) or if its actions created more societal harm than good (Utilitarianism), even if they maximized shareholder value.

Part 1: Information Collection Plan

Web Search Plan

• Content to Search:
  • Internal Knowledge:

    "Meta internal documents Instagram teen mental health"

    ,

    "Facebook Files teen addiction"

    ,

    "Project Mercury Meta study results"

    .
    • Purpose: To gather primary evidence of what Meta's own research revealed about the platform's impact. This is the foundation for the discrepancy analysis.
  • Public Statements:

    "Mark Zuckerberg public statements teen mental health"

    ,

    "Adam Mosseri congressional testimony teen safety"

    .
    • Purpose: To collect Meta's official, public-facing narrative on the issue. This will be directly contrasted with the internal knowledge.
  • Design Mechanics:

    "psychology of Instagram infinite scroll"

    ,

    "variable rewards social media likes"

    ,

    "Hook Model Instagram examples"

    .
    • Purpose: To find expert analysis and psychological principles that explain why specific design features are addictive. This directly feeds the Hook Model analysis.
  • Ethical Frameworks:

    "Deontology vs Utilitarianism business ethics"

    ,

    "corporate social responsibility tech companies"

    .
    • Purpose: To gather clear definitions and applications of these ethical frameworks to ensure they are applied correctly and robustly in your analysis.

User Interview Plan

• Interview Subjects:
  • Group 1: Teens (Ages 14-18): Recruit a diverse group of at least 10-15 teens who are active or recent heavy users of Instagram. Ensure you receive parental consent.
  • Group 2: Parents of Teens: Interview at least 5-7 parents of active teen Instagram users to understand their perspective and the impact on family life.
  • Group 3 (Aspirational): Former Meta Employees: Identify and attempt to connect with former employees from product, research, or policy teams via professional networks. Even one or two interviews would provide invaluable context.
• Interview Purpose & Core Questions:
  • For Teens (Purpose: To understand the user experience and map it to the Hook Model):
    • "Walk me through what you did the last time you opened Instagram. What made you open it?" (Identifies Triggers and Actions)
    • "Describe the feeling you get when a post gets more likes than you expected. What about when it gets fewer?" (Analyzes the power of Variable Rewards)
    • "If you were to describe Instagram's 'job' in your life, what would it be? When you're bored, lonely, or want to connect, what are you hiring it to do?" (Uncovers deeper motivations)
  • For Parents (Purpose: To populate the Stakeholder Analysis with their interests and harms):
    • "What are your biggest concerns regarding your teen's use of Instagram?"
    • "Have you noticed any changes in your teen's behavior, mood, or sleep patterns that you associate with their time on the app?"
    • "What tools or controls do you wish you had to manage your teen's experience on the platform?"

Part 2: Information Analysis Plan

1. Deconstruct the Product with the Hook Model

• How to do it: Create a table with four columns: Trigger, Action, Variable Reward, Investment.
• Using the Data:
  • From your web search on design mechanics and teen interviews, populate this table for key Instagram functions.
  • Example for "Instagram Stories":
    • Trigger: Red circle around a profile picture (external); Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) on what friends are doing (internal).
    • Action: Tapping the circle to watch the story.
    • Variable Reward: You don't know if the story will be funny, boring, a beautiful photo, or something that makes you feel left out. This unpredictability is the reward.
    • Investment: Replying to a story or participating in a poll, which strengthens your tie to the platform and encourages the other user to engage back with you.
• Output: This analysis forms the core of your "Causal Analysis of Addictive Design" section.

2. Map the Ethical Ecosystem with Stakeholder Analysis

• How to do it: Create a list of all key stakeholders (Teens, Parents, Meta/Shareholders, Advertisers, Regulators). For each one, list their primary interests and the harms they experience or cause.
• Using the Data:
  • Use parent and teen interviews to define their interests (connection, validation) and harms (anxiety, poor body image).
  • Use internal documents and public statements to define Meta's interests (engagement, growth, revenue) and advertisers' interests (reaching an engaged teen demographic).
• Output: This analysis provides the context for the "Ethical Judgment Framework" section by showing whose interests were prioritized over others.

3. Apply Ethical Frameworks for Judgment

• How to do it: Write two short paragraphs, analyzing Meta's actions through each ethical lens.
• Using the Data:
  • Deontological Analysis: Use the discrepancy between internal knowledge and public statements. Argue that Meta had a duty of care to be honest about the harms its own research uncovered, especially regarding vulnerable users. Did they violate this duty by downplaying the risks?
  • Utilitarian Analysis: Use the stakeholder analysis. Weigh the "good" produced (profits for shareholders, connection for some users) against the "harm" produced (widespread teen mental health issues, as documented in their own research). Argue whether the outcome created more overall harm than good.
• Output: This completes the "Ethical Judgment Framework" by providing a structured moral conclusion.

4. Synthesize and Formulate Recommendations

• How to do it: Use the insights from the previous steps to build the actionable recommendations for your final output.
• Using the Data:
  • For Product Teams: Your Hook Model analysis directly points to the features needing change. For example: "Introduce a natural 'end of feed' after 20 posts to break the infinite scroll loop" or "Remove like counts by default for all users under 18."
  • For Policymakers: Your ethical analysis justifies the need for external rules. For example: "Mandate third-party audits of internal research on user well-being" or "Legislate a legal 'duty of care' for platforms serving minors."
  • For Parents & Teens: The analysis provides the 'why' behind the advice. For example: "Recognize that the 'variable rewards' of likes are designed to keep you hooked, not to accurately measure your worth. Practice mindful scrolling by setting time limits before opening the app."