Minnesota will receive at least $214 million from a national settlement with Meta over youth-harm claims. Attorney General Keith Ellison announced the agreement on August 26, 2026. The case is a state enforcement action, which means the payment goes to state government rather than to individual residents. The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says in its August announcement that the state share could rise to $307 million if related conditions are met.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Nprillinois — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the original report from News Usa — Use this primary source to review the complete report.
Table of Contents
- What did Minnesota allege?
- How large is the payment?
- Can residents file a claim?
- What changes for users under 18?
- Where will Minnesota's share go?
What did Minnesota allege?
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office says the bipartisan 2023 lawsuit accused Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook features to addict children and teens. The suit also accused the company of misleading the public about safety risks.
The Associated Press reports the deal came during the second week of a federal trial in Oakland, California. That trial covered teen addiction claims from 47 to 52 states and territories, and the settlement still needs court approval.
How large is the payment?
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office puts the national payment at a minimum of $12.2 billion and up to $17.1 billion. The higher total depends on TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube agreeing to comparable terms.
News Usa Today, reporting the Attorney General's terms, says Minnesota will be paid in installments over nine to 10 years. State lawmakers will decide the final allocation, with youth mental-health and internet-safety programs as possible uses.
Can residents file a claim?
No. This state settlement pays Minnesota, not individual families, and it provides no claim form or filing deadline.
A law-firm summary from Pritzker Hageman explains in its Minnesota youth-case overview that injured families must pursue separate individual claims. The state deal does not compensate those families directly.
- No individual payout to apply for
- No claim form to submit
- No deadline to calendar for state funds
- Separate family claims remain unaffected
What changes for users under 18?
Meta must add new Facebook and Instagram protections for users under 18. NPR Illinois reports in its settlement summary that the measures include account-level limits and stronger parental controls.
The daily limit applies by default to covered youth accounts. The nighttime and school-hours measures restrict access and alerts during those periods.
- Default two-hour daily limit
- Nighttime access blocks
- Muted notifications during school hours
- Stronger parental controls
Where will Minnesota's share go?
The Legislature will decide how to spend Minnesota's installments. Possible uses discussed include youth mental-health and internet-safety programs.
Under Minnesota law, the money defaults to the general fund until lawmakers direct it elsewhere. Suicide-prevention group SAVE urges lawmakers to reserve it for youth mental-health, prevention and digital-literacy uses.
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