Social Media-Free Schools Legislation Package

Overview:

No child should be put in a position where they have to own a smartphone or have a social media account because of their school. Schools should not promote products known to be hazardous to children. ​

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See our Social Media-Free Schools Advocacy Resource Page.

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The Problem: 

• Social media and gaming apps are addictive by design. They disrupt social development, encourage compulsive use, and expose students to harmful content.

• Students report rising levels of anxiety, depression, bullying, and academic distraction linked to digital overuse.

• Schools unintentionally normalize these apps when they allow or rely on them for communication or activities.

• No child should be forced to have a phone or a social media app because their school or any extra-curricular activity requires it. 

 

Proposed Solution:

Ensure that schools are not encouraging social media use during or after the instructional day:

• Ban school-related communication via social media. Schools, employees, and volunteers cannot use social media to contact students, including to share practice and game times. 

• Keep social media and gaming apps out of the school day.  Students should not be allowed to access social media or gaming apps on personal or school-issued devices during the school day or supervised school activities (field trips, sports, dances, etc.).

• Support digital literacy.
  Schools are encouraged to integrate age-appropriate lessons on safe, responsible, and healthy use of digital media.​