# Lawmakers get details on $358M Meta settlement for Kentucky youth **Published:** 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z **Source:** [KY Legislative Research Commission](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html#HealthSvcs-091626) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/lawmakers-get-details-on-358m-meta-settlement-for-kentucky-youth FRANKFORT, Ky. — Lawmakers learned Tuesday about the details of a landmark settlement between Kentucky and Meta that is expected to deliver at least $358 million to the state, according to a [briefing to the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html#HealthSvcs-091626). The settlement resolves claims brought by Kentucky and 28 other states that [Meta used harmful features to drive compulsive use by children and teens while claiming the platforms were safe for young users](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/26/meta-settles-with-kentucky-other-states-including-changes-for-kids-safety/). Officials from the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General explained how the case originated, what Meta must do under the settlement and how Kentucky's deal compares to other state judgments. Chris Lewis, division chief for consumer and senior protection for the attorney general's office, said Kentucky will receive guaranteed payments of $358 million in $35.8 million increments, with the first payment arriving at the end of September and the second coming in January. The payments will continue annually. There is also a contingent payment of $154 million that could come at a later date. Nationwide, the settlement totals just short of $17 billion. Under the agreement, Meta must implement stronger age verification for users under 18 and improve detection of those under 13 who create accounts illegally. The company also must provide nighttime access blocks during hours when adolescents should be sleeping and offer a non-algorithmic, non-personalized feed option to reduce excessive scrolling. "Likes" will not be visible to adolescent users, and cosmetic filters known to cause body image issues will be blocked for minors. Meta has agreed to hire an independent auditor, paid for by the company, to monitor compliance for five years and report to a committee of six states. The settlement also requires expanded parental supervision tools. Lawmakers discussed directing settlement funds toward youth programs. Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said House Bill 686, which proposes creating a Kentucky Positive Youth Development Commission, will be reintroduced in the upcoming legislative session. The bill passed the House during the 2026 session but did not advance in the Senate. Moser said the bill would establish a stakeholder group to identify community needs and determine appropriate youth development spending. Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, emphasized the importance of protecting youth mental health. "These funds are different from the opioid settlement in that it does go to the general fund. So, I think there's general consensus among all of our legislative members to make sure these funds are used for the intended purpose of protecting our youth in mental health situations," he said. Rep. Adrielle Camuel, D-Lexington, noted that social media and emerging technologies affect every corner of the state. "There is not a child in the state who is not impacted in some way," she said. ## Sources - [KY Legislative Research Commission](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html#HealthSvcs-091626) - [Kentucky Lantern - Meta settles with Kentucky, other states, including changes for kids' safety](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/26/meta-settles-with-kentucky-other-states-including-changes-for-kids-safety/) - [LEX 18 - Kentucky AG talks about safety reforms from Meta settlement over teen social media addiction](https://www.lex18.com/news/covering-kentucky/kentucky-ag-talks-about-safety-reforms-from-meta-settlement-over-teen-social-media-addiction) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KY Legislative Research Commission, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html#HealthSvcs-091626.