AL HB364

Each local board of education must adopt an Internet safety policy for student access to the Internet on district-owned devices, limiting access to age-appropriate content and protecting student safety during email and electronic communication.

School Internet safety policies must prohibit student access to social media platforms except when expressly directed by a teacher for educational purposes and prohibit use of TikTok or successor platforms to communicate or promote any school, school-sponsored club, extracurricular organization, or athletic team.

Each local board must provide instruction in grades 6-12 on the social, emotional, and physical effects of social media, including mental health impacts, misinformation, behavioral manipulation, cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and how to report suspicious online activity.

The State Department of Education must publish all instructional materials used for social media education on its website, and local boards must notify parents of the availability of these materials.

The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer these requirements; the act becomes effective July 1, 2024.