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Alabama is the First State to Settle with TikTok: Just days before trial, Alabama became the first state to settle its youth-safety lawsuit against TikTok. The agreement requires TikTok to implement new protections for teen users, including a two-hour daily time limit, overnight access restrictions, stronger age verification and parental controls, a default non-personalized feed, and a ban on cosmetic filters. Financially, Alabama will receive at least $100 million, with the potential to receive up to $300 million total if 40 other states reach qualifying settlements within a specified timeframe.
Wave of New State Lawsuits vs. OpenAI Over Youth Harms: On October 14, attorneys general from Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, and West Virginia filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI in a coordinated effort alleging that ChatGPT lacks adequate safeguards to protect children and other vulnerable users. With more states signaling that further action may follow, the legal fight over technology’s impact on young people is expanding beyond traditional social media platforms.
Thousands of Active Lawsuits Remain: Beyond Meta and TikTok, states are still actively pursuing cases against Snap, Roblox, Discord, and AI chatbot companies. The next state AG trials include Arkansas v. TikTok in March 2027 and Utah v. TikTok in June 2027. More than 1500 school district lawsuits against social media companies are also still (slowly) moving forward, with upcoming bellwether trials with Tucson, AZ and Charleston, SC school districts scheduled for February 2027. Explore the Fund IRL state action map to track lawsuits by state.
| | Featured Resource: New Fund IRL Research Brief | Fund IRL’s Guidance on the Use of Funds from Social Media Lawsuits is grounded in evidence about what young people need to thrive. A new research brief, Helping Young People Thrive In Real Life and Online: Evidence-Based Investments States Can Make Now, developed in partnership with the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), translates research into actionable investment opportunities, from supportive relationships and social connection to physical activity, play, and learning. As states consider how to invest settlement funds, this brief offers an evidence-based foundation for decisions that put young people’s well-being first. Thank you to the SRCD researchers and authors for helping connect the evidence to this critical opportunity. | Fund IRL Across the States | |
Fund IRL state coalitions in all 50 states and DC are working to make sure funds from the recent Meta settlement makes it to young people. In some states, these spending decisions are up to the attorney general, and in others the legislature and/or governor have a larger role. We’re seeing a few trends across the country:
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Fund IRL coalitions are growing: Some states are holding their first coalition meetings, while others now have 50 or more organizations at the table and meeting regularly.
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More kinds of partners are joining: Afterschool and youth development groups are teaming up with children’s hospitals, pediatricians, mental health organizations, and parent groups.
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State leaders are listening: Attorneys general and their staff are meeting with coalitions, attending coalition meetings, and joining youth listening sessions. In one state, more than 190 youth-serving organizations signed a single letter to the attorney general.
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Young people are involved: Coalitions are running listening sessions, youth surveys, and summits. In some states, youth fellows or ambassadors are more deeply engaged.
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Policy conversations are happening now: Coalitions are sharing Fund IRL recommendations with state leaders and some are actively working on legislation with policymakers. Attorneys general are hearing from dozens and dozens of people with ideas of how the money should be spent, and appreciate that Fund IRL is bringing folks together.
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Take Action
Help make settlement dollars count for young people.
As states determine how to invest settlement funds, Fund IRL’s guidance offers five principles for keeping youth well-being at the center of those decisions.
Review and share the Guidance on the Use of Funds for Social Media Lawsuits with your networks and state leaders.
Connect with your Fund IRL state coordinator to learn how to get involved in your state.
Show us IRL:
Hosting an event that celebrates IRL connection? Send photos or video to hello@fundirl.org.
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