Social media safety could be taught in Tennessee schools
Vanderbilt University Poll: Education, safety, immigration remain top priorities for Nashvillians
The proposed legislation, called the 'Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act,' would require the Department of Education to develop curricula on social media, internet and artificial intelligence use and safety for 6th through 12th graders.
Topics would include:
Time management and healthy behaviors on social media
The negative effects of social media on mental health
The permanency of sharing material online
The potential for misinformation when using artificial intelligence
The benefits of social media use for career and resume building
Sponsored by Rep. Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville) and Sen. Bill Powers (R-Clarksville), the bill was unanimously passed Senate Thursday morning.
'This is a common-sense step to protect students and equip them with the tools they need to navigate the digital world safely,' Powers said.
The bill would also require school districts to prohibit students from using social media during school unless it's for educational purposes.
The measure passed the House March 27, but some Democrats voted against the bill due to logistical concerns.
'You named a lot of different skills that have to be taught, and that's going to take a lot of time,' Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) said. 'Something has to be removed from the curriculum to require this to be done, and that is my concern.'
Maberry argued teaching social media and internet safety is worth the time, detailing a story about a student from Florida whose parents say took his own life over an artificial intelligence bot.
'We need our young people to understand the seriousness of this — and understand the benefits of this — and that's why I brought this legislation today,' Maberry said.
The bill passed the House 88 to 4, with three lawmakers not voting. It will be sent to Lee's desk. As long as he doesn't veto it, the measure would go into effect during the 2026-27 school year.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
17 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
Trump's Joke Of No Elections In 2028 — People React
On Monday, Donald Trump met with several European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and made some remarks that left the internet saying, "WTF." When asked if he was open to holding an election once peace is achieved, Zelenskyy replied, "Yes, of course." He explained there aren't elections during wartime as they're focused on security, but the goal is "truth everywhere, in the battlefield, in the sky, in the sea," so people can resume democratic, legal elections. Trump interrupted the Ukrainian leader to confirm the bit about no elections during wartime. "Three and a half years from now, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections," he said. "Oh, that's good," he concluded. Good for who??? I really don't like this little smile at the end. Notably, this happened on the same day Trump made headlines for showing off his "Trump 2028" and "4 more years" merch. Obviously, people had a lot to say about this: "A sitting US President 'jokes' about manufacturing a war to stop democracy and stay in power. Crazy how this shit is not a MUCH bigger deal and will instead be forgotten or dismissed," one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote. Another person said, "You can practically see the dim little lightbulb flicker on above his head. 'Wait a second... if my country is in a war... I don't have to leave the White House... EVER?! THAT'S GOOD!' It's the giddy, amoral excitement of a child who has just discovered a brand new and fantastic way to cheat at the game. Except the game is the Constitution of the United States." "It's not funny.... Cause you know DAMN well it has already crossed his mind, that to me is scary!!! YOU'RE NOT FUNNY TRUMP!!!!" "Democrats need to step up and meet this loser and loser gop party where they are at! Ethics are no longer a part of the Republican party and everyone needs to realize that." And finally, "Don't get your hopes up, fuck-face. We've had elections during every war we've ever fought. And we've fought a lot of wars." What do you think about all this? LMK in the comments below!
Washington Post
19 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Obama supports California redistricting, says GOP can't ‘rig the game'
Former president Barack Obama on Tuesday said he supports California Democrats' moves to redraw congressional districts to offset similar efforts from Texas Republicans. Texas's proposed map could create at least five additional Republican-safe districts, and California's push — framed as something akin to a trigger law — would create a similar number of additional Democratic-leaning districts as a countermeasure as the parties battle for control of the narrowly divided House next year. Obama said that what Texas Republicans are doing requires an equally aggressive response from Democrats. But in the long term, the former president told those gathered for a National Democratic Redistricting Committee fundraiser that there should be no political gerrymandering in America.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Obama backs California effort to redraw districts in response to Texas
Former President Barack Obama is supporting California's mid-cycle redistricting effort as a 'responsible approach' to Republicans drawing new maps in Texas. Obama praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom's ballot measure proposal to redraw congressional districts and tilt at least five congressional districts in the state towards Democrats at a fundraiser on Tuesday for the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. 'I believe that Governor Newsom's approach is a responsible approach,' he said, according to excerpts obtained by POLITICO. 'I think that approach is a smart, measured approach, designed to address a very particular problem in a very particular moment in time.' California Democrats are expected this week to allow voters to bypass an independent commission established by voters and decide whether to approve the new partisan maps for the next three election cycles in response to the Republican's move in Texas. Obama's remarks comes as both parties in California gear up for what is expected to be a hard-fought campaign over the ballot initiative to redraw political boundaries in the state in response to President Donald Trump's efforts to keep the House in Republican hands in the 2026 midterms. The former president said redrawing the lines is 'not my preference,' but that the Democratic-led effort in California is 'responsible' in this context. 'We cannot unilaterally allow one of the two major parties to rig the game,' he said. 'And California is one of the states that has the capacity to offset a large state like Texas.' The Associated Press first reported Obama's remarks. Obama said he hopes that the NDRC and national Democrats will work to eliminate partisan gerrymandering as a 'long-term goal,' but applauded Newsom's response to the new Texas maps and Trump's broader campaign to push other red states to draw new, more favorable maps. 'Given that Texas is taking direction from a partisan White House that is effectively saying: gerrymander for partisan purposes so we can maintain the House despite our unpopular policies, redistrict right in the middle of a decade between censuses — which is not how the system was designed; I have tremendous respect for how Governor Newsom has approached this,' he said. Newsom thanked Obama for his support in a social media post and promised that California's redistricting proposal will 'neutralize any attempts Donald Trump makes to steal Congressional seats.'
