GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 959
Short Title: Social Media Literacy in Schools. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Blackwell, K. Hall, and Biggs (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Education - K-12, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H959 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROMOTE IN TERNET SAFETY AND TO PROVIDE SOCIAL MEDI A 2
LITERACY INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 5
"(70) To Adopt an Internet Safety Policy. – Local boards of education shall adopt 6
policies for student access to the internet provided by the school district. The 7
policies shall do at least the following: 8
a. Limit access by students to only age-appropriate subject matter and 9
materials. 10
b. Protect the safety and security of students when accessing email, chat 11
rooms, and other forms of electronic communication. 12
c. Prohibit access by students to data or information, including by 13
"hacking" and other unlawful online activities. 14
d. Prevent access to websites, web applications, or software that does not 15
protect against the disclosure, use, or dissemination of a student's 16
personal information. 17
e. Prohibit and prevent students from accessing social media platforms 18
through the use of internet access provided by the local school 19
administrative unit, except when expressly directed by a teacher solely 20
for educational purposes. 21
f. Prohibit the use of the TikTok platform or any successor platform on 22
devices owned or provided by the local school administrative unit, 23
through internet access provided by the unit, or as a platform to 24
communicate or promote any unit or school sponsored club, 25
extracurricular organization, or athletic team." 26
SECTION 2. Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended 27
by adding a new section to read: 28
"§ 115C-81.26. Social media and mental health. 29
Each local board of education shall provide instruction on social media and its effects on 30
health, including social, emotional, and physical effects. Instruction shall be provided once 31
during elementary school, once during middle school, and twice during high school. Instruction 32
may be included as part of the mental and emotional health instruction provided pursuant to 33
G.S. 115C-81.25. Instruction on this topic shall include at least the following: 34
(1) Negative effects of social media on mental health, including addiction. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 959-First Edition
(2) The distribution of misinformation on social media. 1
(3) Methods of manipulating behavior using social media. 2
(4) The permanency of information shared online. 3
(5) How to maintain personal security. 4
(6) How to identify cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking on 5
the internet. 6
(7) How to report suspicious behavior encountered on the internet. 7
(8) Personal and interpersonal skills or character education that enhances 8
individual level protective factors and mitigates or reduces risk-taking or 9
harmful behavior." 10
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 11
the 2025-2026 school year. 12