See exactly where our funding comes from and how we spend every dollar.
The Center for Social Media and Youth accepts zero funding from any technology company whose products we review. We are initially seeking seed funding from the Florida Legislature appropriation, and will operate under the Claude Pepper Foundation—a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit that makes its home at the Claude Pepper Center at FSU while maintaining complete independence from both the university and the platforms we rate.
This policy ensures our ratings remain objective, evidence-based, and free from commercial influence or conflicts of interest.
Seed funding from Florida Legislature appropriation (subject to approval). Here's exactly how we plan to allocate resources to maximize impact:
Executive Director, research staff, expert reviewers, administrative support, and benefits for entire team.
Platform testing, methodology development, content creation for 50+ comprehensive platform ratings, peer review process.
Office space, equipment, supplies, insurance, legal fees, accounting services, and day-to-day operational costs.
Parent resources, educator training programs, school partnerships, statewide marketing, and community engagement initiatives.
University research partnerships, expert consultants, specialized studies, and academic peer review collaborations.
After the initial 18-24 month startup period, ongoing operations are estimated at $200,000 per year, funded through private foundations, individual donations, and program services. The seed funding from the Florida Legislature provides the critical foundation to establish the Center and complete comprehensive ratings for 50+ platforms.
Unlike the platforms we review, we take a privacy-first approach to our website and services.
The only personal information we collect is what you explicitly provide:
If you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time. We use a privacy-focused email service and never share your address.
If you donate, we collect your name, email, and billing address (processed securely through our payment provider). Financial data is never stored on our servers.
If you contact us, we collect your name, email, and message. This information is used only to respond to your inquiry and is never shared.
Like all websites, our server automatically logs basic technical information (IP address, browser type, page visited, timestamp) for security and debugging purposes. This data is anonymized after 30 days and never used for tracking or profiling.
To exercise these rights, please contact us through the form on our website.
Proposed 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
State: Florida
Status: Pending Florida Legislative Approval (FY 2026-27)
Subject to $2M nonrecurring appropriation from Florida Legislature General Revenue Fund. Upon approval, the Center will be established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The Claude Pepper Foundation
Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Location: Florida
The Claude Pepper Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor and host organization for the Center, providing organizational infrastructure and oversight. While the Foundation resides at the Claude Pepper Center at Florida State University, it operates as a fully independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no university affiliation—ensuring the Center charts its own mission and maintains unwavering editorial independence.
Florida Department of Education
Funding Source: Florida Legislature General Revenue Fund
Appropriation Amount: $2,000,000 (nonrecurring)
Funds will be administered through the Florida Department of Education and allocated to the Claude Pepper Foundation for operation of the Center.
Statewide Reach (18-24 Months)
Students Served: 100,000 statewide
Parents Served: 50,000 statewide
Platform Ratings: 50+ comprehensive assessments
The Center will provide research-based mental health impact ratings and resources to Florida families, educators, and youth across all 67 counties.
Upon establishment, we will publish:
All documents will be freely available on this website.
Your donation helps us expand our reviews, reach more families, and maintain our independence from the companies we rate.
The Center for Social Media and Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.