Austin News

In a recent editorial for the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Nicole Russell expressed support for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's proposed legislation to limit social media use in elementary and secondary schools. The bill, known as the Eyes on the Board Act, aims to restrict children's access to social media sites by requiring schools that receive federal broadband funding to block access on subsidized networks and devices.

Russell praised Sen. Cruz's bill as a "smart" and necessary initiative to address a growing problem that is often not taken seriously enough. She emphasized the negative impact of excessive social media use on children, including addiction, distraction, and negative effects on mental health.

According to experts, spending over three hours on social media per day can have detrimental effects on adolescents. However, a Gallup survey suggests that the average teenager spends nearly five hours per day on social media apps, exacerbating issues such as poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

Sen. Cruz's approach to linking internet connectivity subsidies with social media use is seen as a strategic move. However, Russell expressed disappointment that such legislation is even necessary. She argued that school districts should be proactive in implementing policies that limit or prohibit phone use during school hours, except for emergencies or class assignments. Several Texas schools have already implemented such policies, resulting in improved classroom focus, social interaction, and in-person skills development.

Russell compared the addictive nature of social media to online pornography, highlighting the need for parents, school administrators, and teachers to take action. She commended Sen. Cruz and his co-authors for addressing this pressing issue with their bill, emphasizing that schools should not wait for legislation to take action but should implement social media bans and screen time limits immediately.

In the background section, it is noted that last week, Sen. Cruz, along with Senators Ted Budd and Shelley Moore Capito, introduced the Eyes on the Board Act. This legislation would require schools receiving federal broadband funding to prohibit access to social media on subsidized services, devices, and networks. The introduction of this bill coincided with the Federal Communications Commission's decision to expand the E-Rate program to fund Wi-Fi on school buses. However, the proposed expansion is considered unlawful and would enable unsupervised access to distracting and addictive social media apps during bus rides.

The Dallas Morning News also endorsed Sen. Cruz's Eyes on the Board Act, recognizing the link between social media use, screen addiction, and declining mental health in teenagers.

In conclusion, Sen. Cruz's efforts to curb social media use in schools are gaining support from various sources. The Eyes on the Board Act is seen as a necessary step to address the harmful effects of excessive social media use on children's well-being and academic performance. The hope is that school administrators and parents will take proactive measures to limit social media access and screen time for the benefit of their students.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/fort-worth-star-telegram-sen-cruzs-effort-to-curb-social-media-use-a-smart-bill-addressing-a-growing-problem-for-kids