Georgia lawmakers likely to consider cyberbullying legislation | Georgia

(The Center Square) — Georgia lawmakers will likely consider legislation requiring social media corporations to lend a hand crack down on cyberbullying.

Lt. Governor Burt Jones and Senate Majority Caucus Chair Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, plan to introduce legislation for lawmakers to consider throughout the 2024 legislative Session to require social media corporations to take “concrete steps” to check their customers’ ages.

“There’s a lot of them out there that give access or give people the ability to contact minors and either try to entice them to do illegal things or shame them in what we consider bullying,” Jones, a Republican, informed The Center Square. “It’s a problem; it’s an issue that you can tell just by looking at statistics. Mental health issues are becoming more and more increased, and suicides are becoming more and more increased, …and all these factors are playing into a heavy stress load on children today.

“I feel we want some legislation that has some enamel in it, and we want companions with numerous those social media platforms in serving to us police it and in addition deal with the problems,” Jones added.

The proposed legislation would update existing rules about monitoring bullying and educating students and teachers on this issue to consider modern platforms. It would likely require social media companies to remove features they know are addictive to children.

“Parents and colleges want our consideration and unwavering strengthen of their efforts to construct wholesome communities through proscribing the destructive affects of social media,” Anavitarte said in an announcement. “The psychological well being of our youngsters and proscribing retailers for bullying are essential, and I imagine it is a key first step in addressing those problems.”