Committee calls up bill to add social-media literacy to education standards amid cell-phone debate
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Summary
Representative Prokopiak’s House Bill 2176 would add social-media literacy to State Board standards; members discussed where the programming would occur, interactions with pending cell-phone limits, and whether content belongs in school or at home; the committee voted to call the bill up for consideration.
Representative Prokopiak asked the House Education Committee to call up House Bill 2176, which would require the State Board of Education’s standards to include social-media literacy.
Prokopiak said social media affects mental, physical and academic outcomes and that schools should provide resources and training without imposing new direct classroom mandates. Representative Gleim asked whether programming would occur during instructional time and how cell-phone bans — debated elsewhere — could affect delivery; Prokopiak said the intent is that programming would be available in school and that a cell-phone ban would not eliminate the need for social-media literacy because students access social media outside school hours as well.
Other members argued the topic may be best handled by parents and local districts, and some raised concerns about value-based content versus academic standards. Supporters gave examples of successful literacy training in elementary schools and said it teaches students to evaluate sources and spot clickbait. The committee agreed to call the bill up for consideration and debate; the motion passed (ayes 14, nays 12).
