Fund IRL
On August 26th, 2026, Illinois joined a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms Inc., one of the largest state consumer protection settlements in history. ACT Now is calling on Illinois leaders to invest these settlement dollars directly in young people and the programs that support their well-being.
Background
On August 26th, 2026, Illinois joined a $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms Inc., one of the largest state consumer protection settlements in history. Under the agreement, which remains subject to court approval, Illinois could receive nearly $768 million to address harms caused by Meta’s social media platforms and support efforts to protect young people. The settlement also requires Meta to implement significant safety measures designed to better protect children and teens on Instagram and Facebook.
Young people deserve to grow up healthy, connected, and supported. While stronger protections online are critical, they are only a piece of the solution. We also need to make sure young people have meaningful opportunities to connect, build skills, develop relationships, and simply be kids in the real world.
That is why ACT Now is calling on Illinois leaders to invest these settlement dollars directly in young people and the programs that support their well-being. ACT Now is the Fund IRL Statewide Coalition leader for Illinois, a national coalition working to ensure that funding from social media settlements is used to 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.
The settlement itself recognizes the importance of these investments. The agreement with Meta explicitly identifies afterschool and summer programming, as well as mental health and crisis intervention, among the potential uses of state funds to remediate harms to young people. Illinois has a tremendous opportunity to put these dollars to work in communities by strengthening the programs that already provide young people with the connection, belonging, and opportunities they need to thrive.
ACT Now is working to ensure that Attorney General Raoul, Governor JB Pritzker, and the Illinois General Assembly prioritize afterschool, summer, and other youth-serving programs, including mental health, outdoor recreation, and youth development opportunities, as a meaningful use of Illinois’ social media settlement funds. Young people deserve vibrant communities, supportive relationships, opportunities to learn and lead, and places where they can belong.
“We cannot simply take something harmful away from young people and call it a solution. We must also invest in the resources and opportunities that help our children thrive.”
Take Action
Take action today to urge Illinois leaders to invest these settlement dollars directly in young people and the programs that support their well-being. We encourage you to share the advocacy opportunities and other resources below with your students and communities.
Join the Coalition
By joining the coalition, you’ll receive updates and opportunities to support advocacy efforts, amplify key messages, share resources, and help advance investments in programs that strengthen outcomes for youth across Illinois. Read our coalition’s Guiding Principles.
Find Your Legislators
Find your state and federal elected officials.
Also access elected officials’ websites and contact information.
Student Survey
Young people from every corner of Illinois deserve to have their voices heard. We are inviting students from all communities across the state, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, to complete this short survey and share their experiences with social media. The more students who participate, the better we can understand how social media is affecting young people’s mental health, well-being, relationships, and daily lives.
The feedback collected will help inform advocacy efforts and recommendations related to the funds available through the Meta settlement, ensuring that youth perspectives help guide decisions that impact their communities. Your privacy matters. Students can choose to remain completely anonymous or select which information, if any, they would like to share. Participation is voluntary, and responses will be used to better understand youth perspectives and priorities.
To help you share the survey and engage students, families, and community members, you’ll find additional resources below, including communication tools, presentation materials, and ready-to-use social media content.
Student Survey
Students are invited to complete a short survey to help us better understand how social media has impacted young people’s mental health, well-being, and daily experiences. Feedback from this survey will help inform advocacy efforts related to the funds Illinois is receiving through the Meta settlement, and help ensure youth voices are included in this advocacy.
Survey Slide Deck
ACT Now has developed a slide deck for providers to use prior to sharing the survey with students. This slide deck is designed to give students background information about the Meta Settlement and facilitate discussions among your students. Access an editable version with speaker notes here.
Communications Template
ACT Now has developed a communications template that includes sample newsletter language, social media post, and messaging. Whether you’re reaching students directly or engaging parents and caregivers, these ready-to-use materials make it easy to spread the word about the student survey.
Resources
ACT Now and ICOY Webinar
On October 14th, ACT Now and ICOY hosted a webinar on the recent Meta settlement and the Fund IRL campaign. The webinar also featured the national Fund IRL team, who provided national context and background. Watch the recording of this webinar below. To acces the recording the password is JQ4Pt@^Y
Fund IRL: National Website
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. Access Fund IRL’s national website below.
Full Settlement
Read the full Meta settlement agreement below. The settlement includes the following information regarding how funding from the settlement should be used. The Payment Purposes can be found on pages 38 and 39 of the settlement agreement.
“Payment Purposes. The amount paid to each Settling State shall be used for any lawful purpose consistent with the Settling State’s Attorney General’s authority, such as the following remedial or restitutive purposes:
(a) Crisis intervention services, specifically the expansion and operation of
the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and text-based youth crisis lines;
(b) After school or summer programs, such as sports, literacy, dance, and
other activities;
(c) Public health advertising credits;
(d) A digital wellness public education fund;
(e) Funding outdoor activities;
(f) Youth mental health programming;
(g) Support the hiring of digital literacy counselors or implement phone-free
school zones;
(h) Training for medical providers on interactive media use and body
dysmorphia;
(i) Grants to school districts or other local government entities to accomplish
any remedial purpose encompassed here;
(j) Any similar remedial or restitutive purposes as those described above; and
(k) Investigation, litigation, and related efforts to improve teen safety on
social media.”
Meta Settlement Toolkit for Partners
Fund IRL has developed practical tools, messaging, and shareable resources to help partners and advocates amplify the moment, engage their networks, and help ensure funds intended to address harms to young people support youth well-being.
Fund IRL: Youth Voices
Across the country, young people are finding connection, confidence and support through programs, mentors, teams and places where they belong. Fund IRL Youth Voices is bringing those stories together to help show why these opportunities matter and why more young people should have access to them.
State Information
Looking for information on Illinois’ recent funding issues and state legislative priorities? Visit our website below.
Our Partners
We are deeply grateful for the work programs across the state do every day to support, empower, and create opportunities for young people across Illinois. Your dedication ensures that young people have access to safe, supportive spaces where they can learn, connect, grow, and thrive. Thank you as well for your continued advocacy and for using your collective voice to champion the resources and opportunities Illinois’ young people deserve.
ACT Now will be sharing more ways to stay engaged, access advocacy actions, and resources for supporting students, families, community members, colleagues, and yourselves.
Questions? Want to learn more about the Fund IRL campaign? Reach out to Elizabeth Hartnett at hartnette@actnowillinois.org.
