Social Media Settlement Funds

An opportunity to invest in youth well-being via afterschool and summer programs

Afterschool and summer programs offer an antidote to social media harms, providing kids with a safe place to connect, explore and grow. Social media settlements are an opportunity to address young people's mental health, well-being, and development.

In August 2026, Meta settled a case with 47 states that will direct up to $17.1 billion over 10 years toward addressing the mental health harms linked to social media use among young people. The settlement explicitly names "after school or summer programs, such as sports, literacy, dance, and other activities" as a recommended use of the funds.

The result is a huge win, and we’re proud to be part of the Fund IRL team that has been pressing for this since the cases began. But–the work is not done. Getting named as a solution does not guarantee that funds will be directed toward afterschool and summer opportunities.

How the funds are spent–and who decides–can differ by state. The key influencers on use of the funds are likely to be the state Attorney General, legislature, and governor.

State officials need to be encouraged to seize this opportunity to expand positive youth development opportunities.

What you can do

Learn more about the next steps on settlement funds

Connect with your state Fund IRL coalition and your state afterschool network so you get updates on the use of funds in your state, and what action to take.

Get familiar with the Guiding Principles we’re encouraging state officials to adopt for responsible, effective use of the funds to support youth, and other resources at FundIRL.org.