So Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook and top dog at Meta, has basically admitted that his social media platforms, which also include Instagram, are addictive and damaging to the sensitive psyches of teenagers and younger people.

Now comes the payout. And the need for Utah, and all the other states, to keep an eye on what Meta and other social media platforms do next. And for the people to keep an eye on what their state governments do with all that money.

In settling a lawsuit brought by Utah and 45 other states, Meta has agreed to pay damages of $12.2 billion (a pittance of its $1.47 trillion market capitalization) and to change the way its platforms run so as to be less addictive.

Of that, Utah expects to receive a total $212 million in installments over the next decade. In theory, the payouts should go to salve the problems that social media causes, addiction and other mental health issues, especially among the young. Programs that improve literacy, something that continual doom scrolling undermines, would also be a valid use of the funds.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Attorney General Derek Brown pledge to follow through to make sure the proposed changes, limiting the hours young people can be on the platforms and the private information gathered, are indeed carried out.

Meanwhile, it will be up to the Utah Legislature, and the voters, to make sure that the money Utah gets actually goes to the appropriate uses. That it isn’t diverted to other pet projects, filling any other budget holes or justifying more tax cuts.

Utah received this money to remedy specific woes. That’s where it must go.

Editorials represent the opinions of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, which operates independently from the newsroom.