- Proposals focus on supporting mental health of young Mississippians and creating more opportunities for outdoor activities. Lawmakers will have the final say.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office has submitted a proposal for the Legislature to consider when spending the state’s share of a settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc.
Within the recently announced multi-state settlement, Meta will pay $17.1 billion, of which Mississippi is expected to receive $188.9 million over a decade. Those funds will be appropriated for various uses, particularly with a focus on mental health programs for young people.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s Chief of Staff, Michelle Williams, said the final decision on how the money will be spent will be up to the Legislature.
The Consent Judgement and Order filed in Hinds County Chancery Court by the Attorney General listed the following projects and/or expenses:
- Balance of payments for the 2026 calendar year will go to the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to develop mental health programs for young people aged 12 to 18, with programs working in cooperation with the K-12 schools in the state. Starting in January of 2027, $6.8 million will sent to the MDMH for those mental health programs.
- Also starting in January 2027, $6 million is proposed for use by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to build new playgrounds, parks, courts or fields for sports activities, and/or other types of recreation facilities in outdoor settings, or improvements statewide through cooperative programs with K-12 schools and local governing agencies. These projects should be targeted to, but not limited to, children aged 12-18.
- Another $6 million is proposed for use starting in January of next year for use by the Mississippi Department of Education to create learning opportunities offered during breaks or after school hours in cooperation of the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
Payments as part of the settlement hinged on the dangers to children’s mental health as it relates to the use of social media.
Similar suits have been filed against other social media companies, which could equate to an additional $81 million to the state of Mississippi if settlements are reached in those cases. Those additional suits were filed against YouTube, Tik Tok, and Snapchat, as previously reported.
Attorney General Fitch told Magnolia Tribune last month that she would like to see the funds used to create after school or summer programs as well as efforts to increase outdoor activities and methods to support public health and promote digital literacy.
