SE North Carolina News

Washington, D.C. — Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) have introduced a new bill aimed at limiting children's access to social media at school. The bill, known as the Eyes on the Board Act, would require schools that receive federal broadband funding to prohibit access to social media on subsidized services, devices, and networks.

The bill has garnered support from several organizations, including the American College of Pediatricians, Parents Defending Education Action, Heritage Action, and the American Association of Christian Schools, among others. These organizations believe that restricting social media access in schools will help students focus on their studies and improve their educational outcomes.

Senator Budd, one of the bill's proponents, emphasized the importance of parental involvement in their child's education. He stated, "That's why I'm proud to help Senator Cruz introduce the Eyes on the Board Act, which is a commonsense solution to ensure that kids are focused on their studies at school rather than social media." He further added, "If taxpayers are going to pay some of the costs for schools to be connected to the internet, then parents deserve to know that students are actually learning during school hours."

Senator Cruz echoed similar sentiments, expressing concern over the potential harm social media can cause to children. He said, "Addictive and distracting social media apps are inviting every evil force on the planet into kids' classrooms, homes, and minds by giving those who want to abuse or harm children direct access to communicate with them online." He stressed that restricting access to social media at school is a necessary step to protect children and ensure their safety.

Senator Capito highlighted the need to prioritize learning over social media use in schools. She emphasized that while the Universal Service Fund's E-Rate program helps connect schools to the internet, there is currently no provision that requires schools to prohibit the use of addictive social media apps that distract students. Senator Capito believes that their legislation will ensure that the funds are used for learning purposes and not for students to engage in social media.

The Eyes on the Board Act aims to limit children's use of social media at school by prohibiting schools from receiving E-Rate or Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) subsidies unless they prohibit access to social media on subsidized services, devices, and networks. The bill also promotes parental limits and transparency on screen time in schools by requiring schools to adopt a screen time policy as a condition of receiving federal funding.

Furthermore, the bill calls for the creation of a database of schools' internet safety policies by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This will provide parents and the public with the necessary transparency regarding the steps E-Rate-funded schools are taking to protect children online.

In conclusion, Senators Budd, Cruz, and Capito have introduced the Eyes on the Board Act to address the issue of social media access in schools. With the support of various organizations, they believe that limiting social media use will enhance students' educational experience and improve their academic performance. The bill aims to ensure that federal funds are used for learning purposes and to provide parents with transparency regarding internet safety measures in schools.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.budd.senate.gov/2023/10/18/budd-cruz-capito-propose-bill-to-limit-social-media-access-at-school/