Protecting Our Children in the Digital Age

We are raising the first generation of children who have never known a world without smartphones, social media, and constant digital connectivity. In many ways, that is a gift. Technology opens doors, connects people, and creates opportunities that previous generations could not have imagined.

But it also comes with risks. And we are only beginning to understand what those risks mean for our children.

Study after study has linked heavy social media use to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among young people. Platforms designed to maximize engagement have become breeding grounds for cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and content that no child should ever see. Parents are struggling to keep up, and schools are overwhelmed.

This session, the General Assembly took meaningful action to protect Tennessee's children from digital harm.

We passed legislation creating the Children's Digital Protection Fund, which will set aside money recovered from legal claims against social media, online gaming, and other digital technology companies. These funds will be dedicated exclusively to children's mental health services, research, law enforcement efforts, and suicide prevention initiatives focused on digital safety.

When companies profit from harming our kids, the money recovered should go directly toward helping kids. That is what this fund ensures.

We also passed legislation requiring public schools to adopt internet acceptable use policies with real teeth. Schools must now implement safety protocols, prevent access to pornographic or violent content, and notify parents if a student accesses prohibited sites. Providers of digital resources contracted with schools must filter or block harmful content.

And we passed legislation requiring the Department of Education to provide professional development on artificial intelligence for teachers in grades 6 through 12. Technology is evolving rapidly, and our educators need to understand both the benefits and the risks.

None of this is a silver bullet. Parents still have the most important role to play in protecting their children. But the state can and should be a partner in that effort. These measures represent a commitment to taking the mental health and safety of our children seriously.

I will continue working on this issue in future sessions. Our kids deserve nothing less.