Put Social Media Settlement Dollars to Work for Kansas Youth

Kansas IRL the state representative of a national coalition dedicated to ensuring any payouts from social media lawsuits fund programs and services that promote youth well-being and healthy development.

Kansas is guaranteed approximately $134.35 million through the Meta youth/social-media settlement, with a maximum potential payment of $192.26 million if contingent conditions are met. The settlement expressly identifies afterschool and summer programs among appropriate remedial uses, alongside youth mental health, crisis intervention, outdoor activities and digital wellness.

Young people who spend the most time on social media experience negative impacts on mental health.  Social media lawsuit payouts should fund young people’s well-being and close opportunity gaps.  KEN advocates for “in real life” (IRL) opportunities for youth which serve as a powerful antidote to the harms of social media.

Our Guiding Principles

Fund IRL Kansas endorses the national Fund IRL principles for using social media settlement dollars:

1. Protect and support youth well-being and mental health. Funds should measurably prevent and address harms to young people and build off-screen connection and resilience.

2. Invest across many supports and settings. Community, school, and clinical supports, from programs open to every young person to intensive help for those who need it.

3. Let evidence and data guide decisions. Build on research and on real data about what Kansas youth need and where access falls short.

4. Keep governance fair, inclusive, and transparent. Youth, families, educators, providers, and community leaders should have a formal role, and decisions should be public.

5. Guarantee meaningful access for all youth. Reach underserved young people and remove the barriers, like cost and transportation, that keep them out.