Image Credit: Canva
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Legislation that proposes that the department of education develop a curriculum to instruct 6-12th grade students enrolled in schools in LEAs or public charter schools about social media and internet safety is being recommended for passage by the House Education Instruction Subcommittee.
House Bill 0825 (HB0825), sponsored by State Representative Aron Maberry (R-Clarksville-District 68), is also known as the “Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act.” It would mandate that the education department incorporate topics such as the following:
– Time management and healthy behaviors on social media
– Potential negative effects of social media on mental health, including addiction to social media
– How social media manipulates behavior
– The permanency of sharing materials online
– Safe usage of social media (including maintaining personal security, preventing oversharing, and identifying predatory behaviors & human trafficking)
– Understanding potential misinformation when using artificial intelligence
Creation of such curriculum would be required by January 1, 2026, and schools would be required to implement the curriculum for the 2026-2027 school year.
The bill passed the subcommittee with 5 yes votes and 1 no vote. State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville-District 13) voted against the measure.
The companion Senate Bill 0811 (SB0811), sponsored by Senator Bill Powers (R-Clarksville-District 27), has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.
