The Georgia Senate will take up legislation this winter to protect teenagers from cyberbullying and other harmful effects of social media use. Numerous studies have found the overuse of social media poses a significant danger to young people, particularly girls, increasing their risk of suicide.
The proposed legislation, which is still in development, would require social media companies to take concrete steps to verify the age of their users. Existing rules requiring schools to monitor bullying would be updated to reflect the realities of modern technology.
The bill would also require social media companies to remove features they know or find addictive to minors. Lieutenant Governor Bert Jones, who is spearheading the legislation, says he and other backers plan to reach out to social media companies, local school systems, and parents for ideas as they craft the bill.
