Guidance on the Use of Funds from Social Media Lawsuits
As social media lawsuits and settlements related to youth harms move forward, states and communities may have a significant opportunity to invest resulting funds in the programs and opportunities that support youth well-being in the digital age. Fund IRL’s guidance offers five principles to help ensure those investments are meaningful, evidence-informed, responsive to youth and community voices, transparent and accountable, and accessible to all young people.
What Is Fund IRL?
What Is Fund IRL?
Fund IRL is a coalition working to ensure any payouts from current social media lawsuits help fund programs and services that promote youth well-being and healthy development. “In real life” (IRL) opportunities—ones where young people build skills, make friends, and grow—are a powerful antidote to the harms of social media.
Why IRL Matters
For young people, in-person connections with the people and programs that support their well-being offer an antidote to the harms of social media.
The Opportunity
Across the country, states, communities, school districts, and families are suing social media companies for knowingly designing their platforms to keep young people hooked—prioritizing profits even as evidence mounted that these designs were harming youth mental health and safety. Like earlier lawsuits against tobacco and opioid companies, these cases could lead to major settlements or other payouts meant to repair harm and invest in solutions for young people.
The Need
After-school, summer, and other youth development programs—activities proven to keep kids safe and promote connection and well-being—are stretched thin nationwide, leaving millions of young people without access. At the same time, community- and school-based mental health services are in high demand and require deeper investment to ensure all young people can access the services they need.
The Solution
Social media lawsuits could yield once-in-a-generation funding for programs and services that research shows improve youth well-being and prevent harm. With this type of funding windfall, communities could expand their after-school and summer programs; mentoring and mental health services; arts, outdoor, and sports experiences; library enrichment; service opportunities; and other programs. And more young people could access the real life experiences they need to thrive.
The Action
We’re working toward a future where every young person has access to these programs and services—where money intended to address social media harms is invested directly in opportunities that help kids feel supported, confident, and connected. Simply taking phones away isn’t enough; it’s about giving young people more ways to grow, explore, and thrive. Together, we can turn social media accountability into meaningful investments in youth.
BREAKING: Fund IRL Statement on Meta Lawsuit Settlement
Today’s landmark Meta settlement is a significant step toward holding social media companies accountable for the impact their platforms have had on young people. The settlement establishes an important principle: when companies are held accountable for harms affecting young people, a meaningful share of the resources recovered should be used to help young people heal, reconnect and thrive.
In the News
Offline Oakland (Radio) Sept 14
KCBS Radio
Offline Oakland Recap (Radio)
KCBS AM Radio (Evening)
Leaders Organize Youth Gathering at Offline Oakland
KTVU Fox 2
Oakland Event Held to Get Kids Outdoors, Away From Social Media
CBS News Bay Area (KPIX 5)
3 things districts need to know about the $17B Meta social media settlement
K-12 Dive
If Social Media Companies Owe Billions, Let’s Fund What Kids Need
The conversation about social media and young people has been largely about what to take away. It’s time to talk about what to give kids. Read Elizabeth Gaines in The74.
Elizabeth Gaines leader of Fund IRL discusses the $18 Billion settlement that Meta will pay
Radio Segment: WPTF FM 92.9 AM 680
Fund IRL Statement on Meta Lawsuit Settlement
August 26, 2026 | Landmark Meta Settlement Actions
Social media lawsuits could net payouts. How are districts planning?
K-12 Dive
‘Rehumaning’ Education: Banning Screens Is Only Part of the Solution
The 74
Child Advocate Envisions ‘Game-Changing’ Windfall From Social Media Settlements
The 74
‘We need human connection, not AI chatbots.’ Students take their message to California lawmakers
KCRA3-TV Sacramento
Tools for Advocates
Research Brief: Evidence-Based Investments States Can Make Now
In partnership with Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), the research brief, "Helping Young People Thrive In Real Life and Online: Evidence-Based Investments States Can Make Now," translates recent research into practical areas for policy and investment, including opportunities to strengthen supportive relationships, social connection, physical activity, play and learning.
Guidance on the Use of Funds from Social Media Lawsuits
A Framework for Addressing Social Media Harms by Investing in Youth Well-Being
Youth Focus Group Toolkit
Use our Youth Focus Group Toolkit to facilitate a discussion, then submit participant feedback through our survey to inform the Fund IRL Harms Reduction Framework and Guiding Principles.
Coalition Member Guidelines
Learn what it means to join the Fund IRL coalition, including member expectations, opportunities, and shared commitments.
Promotional Toolkit
Everything you need to communicate consistently about Fund IRL, from core messaging and social content to newsletters, blogs, and creative assets.
Tracking Social Media Litigation: A Quick Guide for After-School Advocates
Children’s Funding Project
Coalition Insights & Updates
Fund IRL Newsletter – September 24
Offline Oakland with Youth Speaks and Safe Passages
Read more about the youth-led IRL event designed to create a welcoming space for young people to explore their interests and connect with organizations in their community.
Fund IRL Newsletter – August 20
Fund IRL Statement on Meta Lawsuit Settlement
August 26, 2026 | Landmark Meta Settlement Actions
Webinar | Organizing for Youth Investment in the Social Media Litigation Landscape
In this latest webinar, Fund IRL speaks with coalition partners; youth leaders; and Eleanor Blume, special assistant attorney general at the California Department of Justice, about the evolving litigation landscape and what advocates can do before decisions are made.
Fund IRL Newsletter – July 16
With more than 50 national partners and coalition members in 47 states, our coalition continues to grow as we work to ensure that any funds resulting from lawsuits over social media harms are invested back into young people and their communities.
Webinar | Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, co-sponsored by Alliance for Youth Thriving
Insightful conversation with Hansa Giridhar, a student, author, and STEM for All advocate, Neha Shukla of Innovation for Everyone, Marianne Gibson of Inseparable, and Rachel Franz, M.Ed. of Fairplay, joined by Fund IRL's Elizabeth Gaines and Allie Farrell.
Fund IRL Newsletter – May 21, 2026
States are beginning to define what accountability for social media harms looks like and whether young people will meaningfully benefit from those investments.
Webinar | Fund IRL—Turn Social Media Accountability into Youth Opportunity
Fund IRL convened Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Ben Small of LaunchNW and youth leaders to make the case for acting early, building relationships now, and investing in what we already know works for kids.
Partner Blogs
LaunchNW pushes for proper use of Meta funds
Spokane Journal
Young people need more than safer screens
Rural Youth Institute for Youth Today
Helping young people thrive In real life and online: Evidence-based investments Idaho can make now
Idaho Out-of-School Network in the Idaho Ed News
Use KY’s Meta settlement to invest in ‘real life’ for kids
Kentucky Youth Advocates in the Kentucky Lantern
Meta settlement money should be used to build something better for kids
South Dakota Afterschool Network in the South Dakota Searchlight
How the Meta settlement can benefit millions of kids
Afterschool Alliance
Smartphones are creating increasingly isolated students
Wisconsin Partnership for Kids in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
States Are Suing Social Media Companies for Harming Young People’s Mental Health. Let’s Make Sure Young People Benefit.
Afterschool Alliance
Youth Sports as a Path to Mental Health, Physical Wellness, & Equity
Positive Coaching Alliance
The American Academy of Pediatrics Agrees—Young People Need a Place to Connect & Belong
Afterschool Alliance
Social Media, Mental Health, and the Role of After-School and Summer Programs
Dr. Gil Noam, Harvard University
After-School Programs Offer an Antidote to Social Media Harms. Big Tech Settlements Should Foot the Bill
Children’s Funding Project
Find our resources, toolkits, news, updates and more. Join our email list for the latest.
National Coalition Members
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Sign up to receive regular updates from Fund IRL. If your organization would like to join the coalition, contact hello@fundirl.org.
