How Minnesota could spend its $200 million Meta settlement
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The hundreds of millions of dollars Meta agreed to pay Minnesota as part of a landmark social media safety settlement has started flowing into state coffers.
Why it matters: The cash could make a big difference in kids' lives — if lawmakers can agree on how to spend it.
Context: The money coming to Minnesota — expected to total between $214 and $307 million — stems from Meta's deal to pay up to $17 billion to settle claims that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harmed children.
- The money, split into 10 payments over about eight years, is meant for public health initiatives like crisis intervention services, after-school programs, outdoor activities and youth mental health programming.
Yes, but: Those parameters were non-binding and, without legislative action, the money will go into Minnesota's general fund, where lawmakers could use it for any purpose, Attorney General Keith Ellison's office tells Axios.
Between the lines: That dynamic sets the stage for a political debate over how to spend the cash.
What they're saying: Ellison's office is exploring whether the money can be used to pay restitution to individual Meta users, as Iowa is doing.
- Ellison, who is running for re-election, also plans to lobby the Legislature to use some of the money to address social media addiction and teen mental health issues.
Mental health is also top of mind for Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley), who has authored several bills related to social media safety and privacy.
- Maye Quade tells Axios she's already been talking to advocates and experts about how to best use the settlement to improve the health and well-being of young people long term.
Her ideas so far include hiring more school counselors and directing more funding for "third spaces" like parks, recreation centers and after-school programs, where young people can gather IRL.
- "It is because the phones are addictive. It is because social media is addictive. But it's also because they have nowhere else to go," she said of teens spending more time online.
Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover) agrees school counselors and mental health support for kids should be priorities.
Yes, and: Scott, who has authored bipartisan social media safety bills, says she's also interested in using some of the cash for a public ad campaign encouraging young people to connect offline.
- "I just think it needs to be cool again to not be on your phone," she tells Axios.
Of note: GOP attorney general nominee Ron Schutz's campaign did not respond to Axios' request for comment on how the settlement money should be spent.
The fine print: While key players appear aligned on the big-picture goals, there will be plenty of specifics to sort out when the session begins.
- Scott, for example, says it's important to include nonpublic schools in any counselor funding proposal.
- She's also open to Ellison's restitution idea, but says she would need to see more details before deciding whether to support it.
The bottom line: Maye Quade and Scott both say they want to give Minnesotans directly impacted by social media, such as phone-tethered teens and the families of cyberbullying victims, a voice in the policy debate.