Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S462 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1485 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 462
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	John C. Velis
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act establishing media literacy education in schools to ensure all children are learning to
13	13	analyze, evaluate and responsibly use the media.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and HampshirePaul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk2/20/2025 1 of 3
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1485 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 462
19	19	By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 462) of John C. Velis and Paul R.
20	20	Feeney for legislation to establish media literacy education in schools. Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act establishing media literacy education in schools to ensure all children are learning to
27	27	analyze, evaluate and responsibly use the media.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
31	31	2Section 99 the following section:-
32	32	3 Section 100. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
33	33	4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
34	34	5 “Department”, the department of elementary and secondary education.
35	35	6 “Digital citizenship”, the ability to use technology safely, effectively, responsibly, and
36	36	7respectfully.
37	37	8 “Media”, the sources used by large numbers of people to receive, communicate, and
38	38	9share information, including but not limited to television, radio, newspapers, internet, social
39	39	10media platforms. 2 of 3
40	40	11 “Media literacy” the ability to critically analyze information presented in the mass media
41	41	12and to determine its accuracy and credibility. For the purpose of this section, “Media literacy”
42	42	13also encompasses “social media literacy” and “digital citizenship” as defined below.
43	43	14 “School”, any public school located in Massachusetts that provides full-time education
44	44	15programs for any grade from kindergarten to 12th.
45	45	16 “Social media”, a web-based or mobile technology that allows users to: (i) connect and
46	46	17interact socially with each other by creating a profile, sharing social connections, and posting
47	47	18content viewable by other users; and (ii) a platform where users can construct a public profile,
48	48	19populate a list of connections, and create content for others to see.
49	49	20 “Social media literacy”, skills to prevent mental and physical health consequences that
50	50	21arise from online social interactions.
51	51	22 “Student”, an individual currently enrolled or registered at a public school as defined
52	52	23under this section.
53	53	24 (b) The department shall integrate media literacy skills in all health and core curricular
54	54	25content for grades kindergarten through 12.
55	55	26 The department shall, in consultation with the department of public health, as well as
56	56	27technology researchers and technology ethicists to develop K-12 curriculum guidelines on how
57	57	28to teach students the skills to critically analyze media content and assess how media affects the
58	58	29world around them, as well as their own physical, physiological, emotional, and cognitive
59	59	30development. 3 of 3
60	60	31 Guidelines shall provide for a sequential course of study for each of the grades from
61	61	32kindergarten through 12, and shall include, at a minimum, the ability to: (i) access relevant and
62	62	33accurate information through media in a variety of forms; (ii) critically analyze media content
63	63	34and the influences of different forms of media; (iii) evaluate the comprehensiveness, relevance,
64	64	35credibility, authority, and accuracy of information; (iv) recognize limitations of social media as a
65	65	36news source, such as the absence of journalistic protocols and conventions of sourcing and fact
66	66	37checking; (v) make educated decisions based on information obtained from media and digital
67	67	38sources; (vi) operate various forms of technology and digital tools; (vii) reflect on how the use of
68	68	39media and technology may affect private and public life; (viii) assess how media affects the
69	69	40consumption of information and how it triggers emotions and behaviors; (ix) protect oneself
70	70	41from online content that presents a clear risk to health and safety, including child sexual abuse
71	71	42material and content promoting illegal drugs, self-harm, or eating disorders; (x) ensure safe,
72	72	43responsible, ethical use of social media platforms and other communication technologies and
73	73	44platforms; (xi) create and share media content using principles of social and civic responsibility
74	74	45and with awareness of the legal and ethical issues involved; and (xii) participate in the political,
75	75	46economic, social, and cultural aspects of life related to technology, communications, and the
76	76	47digital world by consuming and creating digital content, including media.
77	77	48 The department shall provide an online site with a list of approved media literacy
78	78	49curricula that meet the guidelines put forth by the department.
79	79	50 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.