According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, nearly 95% of teenagers age 13 to 17 use social media. Children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
As a result State Rep. Jim Prokopiak, (D-Bucks,) is celebrating the inclusion of his social media literacy bill in the just passed 2026-27 state budget.
The measure requires that the academic standards adopted by the State Board of Education include, but are not limited to, instruction on:
- The effects of social media and mobile device usage on students, including potential mental, psychological, and physical impacts.
- The potential impacts of social media and mobile device usage on academic growth and learning.
- Safe and responsible use of social media, including how to identify suspicious online behavior such as cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and potential human trafficking.
- Best practices for maintaining personal security on mobile devices.
Prokopiak’s bill was one of several education-related items incorporated into the budget, his spokesperson said.
“Social media has completely changed how students interact with one another, and with the world at-large,” said Prokopiak, a member of the House Education Committee. “It is vital that we teach our children how to use social media responsibly and educate them on the negative impacts of using it too frequently.”
Prokopiak served on the Pennsbury School Board before being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Gov. Josh Shapiro enacted these guidelines into law upon his signing of the FY 2026-27 state budget on July 12.
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July 26, 2026 at 4:09 am
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