(TRENTON) — Assemblymen Angel Fuentes (D-Camden) and Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D-Middlesex) issued a multimedia package Thursday on their legislation to provide New Jersey middle school students with lessons on the responsible use of social media and education of the potential pitfalls it can create.
The Fuentes/Diegnan measure (A-3292) would require school districts to provide instruction on the responsible use of social media as part of the district’s implementation of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Technology.
The instruction would provide sixth through eighth graders with information on the purpose and acceptable use of various social media platforms; social media behavior that ensures cyber safety, cyber security, and cyber ethics; and potential negative consequences — including cyber bullying — of failing to use various social media platforms responsibly.
The multimedia package consists of a video of the sponsors discussing their legislation and audio and a transcript of same.
The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.
A transcript of comments from Assemblymen Fuentes and Diegnan is appended below:
Assemblyman Angel Fuentes (D-Camden):
“My bill, the social media education act, would advise the commissioner on education to come up with a curriculum and to educate the sixth, seventh and eighth graders throughout the State of New Jersey – making it mandatory – to learn about social media. So, of course, the benefits and, at the same time, the consequences.”
Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D-Middlesex), Assembly Education Committee Chair:
“Kids don’t really realize or understand the consequences that, whatever goes on social media potentially could affect the future of their lives, in positive ways, thank God, but also in negative ways. The more they know about the consequences of social media, the better it is for all of us.”
Fuentes:
“You know, I think that we have a responsibility as legislators to introduce these types of bills.”
Diegnan:
“This is an essential tool that teachers and students should have because never take for granted that a young person knows the consequences of their actions. This bill will assure that they do understand the consequences of social media.”