Bill restricting social media use, banning TikTok in schools advances

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee voted unanimously to approve legislation that would restrict social media and cell phone use in public schools. 

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brad Yeager, R-New Port Richey, would prevent students from accessing social media sites on district-owned computer servers as well as ban on cell phone use during class.

The proposed legislation, HB 379, also bans TikTok on district-owned devices or “as a platform used to communicate or promote any district school, school-sponsored club, extracurricular organization, or athletic team.”

The bill authorizes teachers to “withhold” a student’s device and establish a designated area for electronic communication devices during classroom instruction.

The legislation would also mandate new classroom instruction for students in grades 6 through 12 on safe social media use. The lessons would include topics such as the negative effects of social media on mental health, cyberbullying, and predatory behavior.

Yeager cited the exponential growth in social media use among children as cause for concern.

“This rise in social media use has shown an increase in cyberbullying as well as impacts on mental health among kids,” Yaeger said. 

Rep. Katherine Waldron, D-Palm Beach, expressed her support for the bill and called the current situation with kids and social media “an uphill battle.”

“This is going to help the parents a bit,” Waldron Said.