Section 20-2-149 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Program for educating students regarding online Internet safety(a)(1) The Department of Education shall develop model programs for educating students regarding online safety while using the internet, taking into consideration educational materials on this topic developed by other states as well as any other materials suggested by education experts, child psychologists, and technology companies that promote child online safety issues.(2) The model programs provided for in this subsection shall include one or more model programs for students in grades six through 12 which:(A) Shall include instruction regarding: (i) The social, emotional, and physical effects of social media on users;(ii) The effects of social media on the mental health of users, particularly teenagers;(iii) The distribution of disinformation and misinformation on social media;(iv) How social media influences thoughts and behaviors;(v) The permanency and risks of sharing materials online;(vi) How to maintain personal security and identify cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking on the internet and social media; and(vii) How to report suspicious behavior encountered on the internet and social media to appropriate persons and authorities; and(B) May include information regarding the benefits of social media use, such as supporting career readiness for future academic or employment opportunities, sharing information with familiar family and friends, and safely connecting with other users with similar interests.(3) The Department of Education shall periodically update the model programs provided for in this subsection to reflect changes in internet and social media use, emergent technologies, social and psychological research, and information concerning new threats to teenagers and young adults using social media platforms and other online communication technologies.(4) The Department of Education shall publish on its website information relating to the model programs provided for in this Code section, including recommended curricula and instructional materials as updated periodically as provided in this subsection. The Department of Education shall provide technical assistance in addition to such model programs and recommended curricula and instructional materials to aid any local board of education that may elect to incorporate one or more components of internet and social media safety into its instructional program.(b) Each local board of education may incorporate into its instructional program a component on online internet safety, including social media safety, to be taught on a schedule as determined by the local board of education.Amended by 2024 Ga. Laws 463,§ 2-2, eff. 7/1/2025.Added by 2008 Ga. Laws 715,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2008.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.