WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) has urged the U.S. Department of Education to increase federal support for teaching responsible technology and social media use in schools. In a letter sent on Thursday to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Houlahan highlighted the growing challenges students and educators face due to irresponsible social media behavior.
In her letter, Houlahan noted a troubling report from The New York Times that described eighth-grade students creating fake social media accounts to impersonate their teachers. These accounts were used to post offensive and harmful content, including racist and homophobic videos. The students also used personal photos from teachers’ online profiles to further harass them.
Houlahan expressed concern that such incidents could become more common as social media use continues to grow. She emphasized the importance of educating young people about the ethical use of technology. “It is crucial that we do all we can to provide our country’s young people with the media and technology education that can help them understand that this behavior is wrong, and perhaps in the most egregious examples, unlawful.”
Key Recommendations
Houlahan proposed several measures to address the issue:
- Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grant Program: Houlahan called for publicizing that this program’s funds can be used to support technology and social media literacy education in schools.
- Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Program: She urged the department to use this existing program to train teachers on how to educate students about responsible technology use.
- Data Collection on Social Media Harassment: Houlahan recommended capturing data on social media-related bullying and harassment through the Civil Rights Data Collection program and other sources.
A Call to Action by Houlahan
Houlahan’s letter highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to social media education. Misuse of social media can have severe consequences, including emotional distress and reputational damage for victims. By integrating technology and media literacy into school curricula, educators can better equip students to navigate the digital world responsibly.
Furthermore, Houlahan suggested collaboration with other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Labor, to promote a unified strategy for media literacy. She stressed that without proper education, students might face challenges in the workforce and other areas of life where responsible technology use is critical.
Houlahan’s call to action highlights the urgent need to address the challenges posed by social media misuse. By enhancing education on responsible technology use, schools can help foster a safer and more respectful online environment for both students and educators.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.