Press Release  Governor Healey Announces $1.75 Million to Promote Safe Social Media Use and Support Student Mental Health

PEABODY — Governor Maura Healey today announced $1.75 million in new funding to help Massachusetts schools protect students from the harmful impacts of social media and teach young people how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. The grants will support schools in educating students about online safety, cyberbullying, protecting their personal information, recognizing misinformation and making healthy choices about social media use.

Governor Healey announced the funding during a visit to Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, where she joined students, teachers and school leaders for a roundtable discussion about the impacts of social media on young people, their mental health and their ability to focus in school.

“We know social media is having a profound impact on our children’s mental health, well-being and ability to succeed in school,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we’re working to hold these platforms accountable, strengthen protections for young people and give our schools the resources they need to keep students safe online. This $1.75 million investment is another important step in our commitment to protecting our kids and making sure they have every opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.”

“Social media is a big part of how young people connect, communicate and learn about the world, but it also comes with real challenges,” Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said. “We want students to have the confidence to question what they see online, recognize when something isn't right and make choices that are good for their health and well-being. These grants will help schools give students those important skills and support families as they navigate the digital world together.”

The funding is available through the new Safe, Healthy and Responsible Digital Life Grant Program, administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Public school districts, charter public schools and educational collaboratives can apply for approximately 25 to 30 grants of up to $60,000 each. Schools can use the funding for age-appropriate classroom instruction, educational materials, educator training and resources that help families support healthy social media use.

The grants will help students learn how to recognize false or misleading information, including AI-generated content, protect their personal information, understand the risks of social media and cyberbullying, and make responsible decisions online. Programs can serve students in elementary, middle and high schools and must be implemented during the 2026–2027 school year.

The new funding builds on the Governor Healey's broader efforts to protect young people from the harmful impacts of social media, reduce distractions in classrooms and support student mental health. Earlier this year, she filed legislation requiring social media companies to implement stronger safety protections for children and teens, including age assurance systems, stronger default privacy settings and restrictions on addictive features like infinite scrolling and automatic video playback. The proposal would also limit notifications and platform access during school and overnight hours.

Governor Healey also previously signed legislation banning revenge porn and AI-generated images such as deepfakes, which are increasingly becoming a concern in schools. The law made it a crime to create, possess or share these materials involving individuals under 18, regardless of whether the image is real or AI-generated. Earlier this year, the administration issued statewide guidance reminding schools that creating a “deepfake” AI-generated nude image of a minor is a criminal offense that must be promptly investigated.

The administration also recently opened applications for $1 million in Cell Phone-Free Schools Grants to help schools limit cell phone use during the school day, reduce distractions and create healthier learning environments where students can focus on learning and connecting with their peers.

As Attorney General, Governor Healey co-led a nationwide, bipartisan investigation into Meta for promoting Instagram to children and teens despite concerns about its impact on their mental health. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has continued that work, recently announcing a landmark $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta in August 2026. The settlement, subject to court approval, will require stronger protections for young users and provide funding to Massachusetts to support youth mental health, digital wellness and literacy.

“Our landmark settlement with Meta is holding social media companies accountable, strengthening protections for young people, and securing resources to address the harms caused by these platforms," said Attorney General Campbell. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration’s investment complements these efforts by giving schools and educators the tools to help students navigate social media safely. Together, we are pairing accountability with education and prevention to protect the mental health and well-being of our young people.”

“When it comes to young people and social media, we must strike a delicate balance. While we are very aware of the risks associated with social media, it can also be a positive tool to help students learn, communicate, and feel seen,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland).  “It’s on us to help children and teens develop healthy habits, fight cyberbullying, and shield their personal data.  That’s why the Senate voted to create this new grant program—to tackle these issues in the classroom.  Thanks to the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the funding is now ready to go to our communities, where it will help educators address social media safety and mental health with students during the current school year.”

“Kids today are growing up in a fast-changing digital world, and teaching them to be safe and smart online is essential,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud that the Legislature secured funding in this year’s budget to give schools the training and resources to help students protect themselves online. I want to thank Governor Healey for putting these funds to work in classrooms across the Commonwealth.”

“As a parent of two teenagers, I know how important it is to help young people navigate social media and all the pressures that come with it,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “Our kids are growing up in a world that looks very different from the one we experienced, and schools and families need to work together to help students make healthy choices. These grants will give educators more tools to have those important conversations and help students develop the skills to stay safe online.”  

“These grants are designed to help students be informed, responsible users of online content, including social media,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “This support will help educators to increase media literacy among students, as well as their understanding of artificial intelligence and their ability to keep themselves and their information safe.”

“Parents and educators have to constantly juggle between the integral role technology plays in all our lives with the damage that living in a constant digital age can cause, especially to our children,” said President of the American Federation of Teachers Jessica Tang. “The harmful impacts of unregulated technology on our children is something our educators and librarians have long been concerned about. By bringing students and educators to the table today, Governor Healey is providing those most impacted an important role in this work from the very beginning. It's clear that the Healey administration is ready to address this public health crisis in an effective and practical way. We look forward to addressing the impact of social media and distracted learning together and are eager to address the newer technologies infiltrating our classrooms, including artificial intelligence, proactively.”

The Safe, Healthy and Responsible Digital Life Grant Program is funded separately through the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget and is part of a broader $2 million investment in online safety and education. In addition to the $1.75 million in school grants, $250,000 will support the review of high-quality instructional materials and the development of educational videos and resources to help schools teach students about healthy social media use and digital literacy.

Applications for the Safe, Healthy and Responsible Digital Life Grant Program are due Monday, November 9, 2026, at 5 p.m. Schools can learn more and apply through DESE's grant program webpage. 

Statement of Support 

Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt:

“Today’s students are growing up in an increasingly digital world, and these grants will help our schools give them the tools they need to navigate it more safely and responsibly.”

Senator Joan B. Lovely:

“Our children are growing up online, and they deserve guidance that keeps pace with the world they live in. I’m grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for this $1.75 million investment, which will help schools teach students to protect their privacy, recognize cyberbullying, and think critically about what they see, including content created by AI. I encourage eligible schools across the Commonwealth to apply.”

Representative Thomas P. Walsh:

“It is critical our public schools equip students to navigate the digital world safely. I am proud to support this essential grant funding in online safety, privacy, and cyberbullying prevention while giving students the critical media literacy skills to spot AI-manipulated misinformation.”

Josh Vadala, Ed.D, Superintendent, Peabody Public Schools:

“The Peabody Public Schools are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of Governor Healey. We've seen first-hand the impact of social media use on the mental health and cyberbullying of adolescents in our community. Governor Healey's forward-thinking investment in developing safeguards for health social media use and digital wellness will have significant benefits for our students.”

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