ALEC Policy Champions: Tennessee Sets New Standard for Responsible Tech Use in Schools

ALEC proudly recognizes Tennessee State Rep. Aron Maberry and Sen. Bill Powers for their leadership in passing Tennessee HB 825 – the Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act. The bill received bipartisan support in both legislative chambers and was promptly signed into law by Governor Bill Lee earlier this month.

As the internet and emerging technologies become more widespread at an increasingly young age, there is a risk that America’s kids and teens may willfully or unintentionally consume inappropriate or harmful content online; fall victim to cyberbullying, online scams, or even human trafficking; or develop unhealthy behaviors online. HB 825 addresses this problem by directing the Tennessee Department of Education to proactively develop guidance for local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to teach the responsible use of social media, the internet, and artificial intelligence tools in the classroom setting.

The social media and internet safety instruction will teach students in grades 6-12 at an age-appropriate level about internet safety and the risks involved with social media use. The curriculum will cover the potential negative effects of social media on youth mental health, the permanency of sharing data online and how to avoid oversharing personal information, how to use social media safely, and how to report suspicious and illegal behavior to the appropriate authorities.

Students will also learn about the benefits of healthy social media use for academic, employment, and career-building purposes, and how to safely connect with friends, family, and other users. Tennessee also added a provision teaching the importance of evaluating information created by generative AI tools like ChatGPT and understanding the potential for misinformation or “hallucinations” when using AI tools.

A fiscal review of the amended version of HB 825 found that it would not result in a significant fiscal impact. The Department of Education will be able to develop the guidance within existing resources, and LEAs will provide the instruction within existing resources and personnel.

Tennessee’s new law builds on the key elements of ALEC’s model Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act that has already been successfully implemented in states such as Florida and Virginia. This model policy is featured as one of ALEC’s Essential Policy Solutions for 2025.

Legislators looking for a better solution for kids’ online safety in their states should consider Tennessee’s example, which helps kids and parents mitigate the risks of the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence and promotes responsible use of technology. Congratulations to Representative Maberry and Senator Powers for their leadership and efforts to educate kids, empower parents, and put families first when it comes to responsible social media and AI use.