Vermont’s young people don’t just need less screen time. They need more opportunities to be active, engaged, connected, and heard … in real life.
When Vermont’s youth are not in school or at home with their family, it is the afterschool, summer learning, service, mentoring, outdoors, sports, arts, and mental health programs—the “third space”—that provide them with the critical safe spaces and opportunities they need to build relationships, develop confidence, and feel a sense of belonging as they find their footing in the world.
Unfortunately, too many young Vermonters still don’t have access to these kinds of opportunities because of barriers like cost, transportation, and limited availability.
At the same time, social media lawsuits are moving forward across the country, with a first settlement for $17.1B announced in August 2026 (with $92.7M earmarked for Vermont).
We urge you today to join Vermont Afterschool and the national coalition Fund IRL in calling on Vermont’s lawmakers to invest these social media settlement funds in programs and services that provide real-world connection, mentorship, and opportunity to support youth well-being.
