LANSING, Mich., Nov. 9, 2026 — Following a landmark national settlement with social media giant Meta, state Reps. Julie M. Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) and Mike Mueller (R-Linden) recently introduced the bipartisan Youth Social Media Settlement Act to ensure that money recovered from social media companies for harming youth is invested in supporting the mental health and well-being of Michigan’s children and youth.

“For years, parents, educators and health professionals have raised concerns about the toll social media can take on our children’s mental health,” Rogers said. “Now, these companies are facing legal consequences, and Michigan stands to recover millions of dollars. We have a responsibility to make sure that money goes toward helping our young people, giving them the care, support and opportunities they need to lead healthy lives.”

In August 2026, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a landmark multistate settlement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, resolving a lawsuit alleging that the company used addictive features that harmed young people and misled the public about those risks. The settlement is expected to bring at least $171 million to Michigan over 10 years. Rogers and Mueller introduced the legislation to ensure that this money, along with future settlements involving social media harms to youth, is reinvested in Michigan’s young people through mental health treatment, prevention services and other evidence-based programs.

“Our children’s mental health must be a priority. The funds made available through this settlement should be invested in solutions that address the growing mental health challenges facing our communities. As technology continues to rapidly evolve, we must ensure our efforts keep pace with the challenges our children face and provide them with the resources and support they need to thrive,” said Mueller.

HB 6463 (Rogers) and HB 6464 (Mueller) would establish the Youth Social Media Settlement Fund within the Michigan Department of Treasury to receive money recovered from social media-related lawsuits and settlements. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services would then administer grants to support youth mental health services, crisis intervention, after-school programs, mentoring and other evidence-based programs. The legislation would also establish guardrails to ensure the money is used as intended by the Legislature, including statewide planning and annual reporting requirements.

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