Civility + Democracy
Virginia Shows the Way: Protecting Kids Through Cell Phone-Free Schools and Smarter Social Media Limits
By Glenn Youngkin
While social media is a powerful tool that can bridge distances, provide ways to highlight important causes, and give users helpful information, we’ve seen that it can also sow disconnection between neighbors, usurp parents’ influence over their kids and create pathways for addictive behaviors. For children, especially adolescent youth, who are experiencing rapid brain development and developing their sense of identity and belonging, the data clearly show that the omnipresence of social media and its addictive algorithms make it dangerous for our kids. The imports are stark: significant increases in mental health disorders and discipline issues at school, and substantial declines in academic performance.
Elected leaders should be empowering and supporting parents and teachers through thoughtful executive action and legislation, so that parents can set appropriate boundaries and teachers can enforce responsible school policies. It is this very partnership that has the power to dramatically improve the mental health and academic future of children across America.