Breaking Constitutional Rights? Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024

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GEORGIA (GA)—For many parents, social media is a serious concern regarding the safety and well-being of their children. Governor Kemp signed a bill into law on April 23, 2024, that aims to make children safer and parents rest a little easier. However, the law seems to be stirring up more controversy than peace. Here's what you need to know about SB 351, more commonly known as the "Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024".

The highlights you need to make note of in the new Act are:

• Provides for social media policies in public schools
• Requires the Georgia Department of Education to develop and periodically update model programs for educating students regarding online safety
• Authorizes the State Board of Education to withhold state funds from local governing bodies for failure to comply with social media policy requirements
• Requires social media platforms to verify the age of account holders and to refuse account services to minors without parental consent
• Requires social media platforms to provide certain information to parents upon request

Those against the Act state that it breaches privacy and violates Georgians' constitutional rights. Several other states, including Ohio, Texas, and Arkansas, have already tried to enact similar laws unsuccessfully. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked a similar law over constitutionality.

Only time will tell if the Georgia Act will also be blocked on the federal level.

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