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State media literacy mandates rise nationwide as education leaders navigate device bans

While 1:1 device use is commonplace in today’s classrooms, schools are now playing catch-up with mandates for Media Literacy, A.I. Literacy, Social Media Literacy, and more to ensure that students have the skills they need to navigate their daily learning and well-being. And yet, some schools are limiting tech, either by limiting phones or reducing screen time during class.

While some schools across the country are returning to less tech-enabled learning, educators and lawmakers increasingly recognize that banning or restricting technology in the classroom is not going to set students up for success in our tech-fueled world. Instead, they are focusing on proactive education that equips students with the skills to thrive as they navigate technology, artificial intelligence, social media, devices, and more.

According to Education Week, at least half of U.S. states now have laws advancing media literacy education, with 11 states adopting new policies since early 2024. As schools rethink how technology fits into learning environments, many leaders are pairing tech-free policies with education that teaches modern life skills, like media literacy, A.I. Literacy, and executive functioning.

The message is clear: Student well-being and learning will be impacted by technology unless they are taught to make positive, high-character choices.

The Social Institute’s positive approach to modern life skills is designed to flex with your school’s policies. No matter where you land on devices, we have a path for you to equip students with the skills to navigate ever-evolving trends that impact their learning and well-being. Talk to our team about #WinAtSocial Huddles that fit your school’s culture.

Why schools are pairing device policies and media literacy

Students encounter complex scenarios online every day, from A.I.-generated images and deepfakes to viral misinformation and algorithm-driven content.

Tech-free spaces can reduce distractions during the school day and support student well-being. However, students will still engage with technology outside of school. That’s why educators are increasingly prioritizing modern life skills, like A.I. and media literacy.

By equipping students with these skills, they learn how to:

• Evaluate online information and digital sources
• Recognize misinformation and manipulated media
• Understand how algorithms influence what they see online
• Think critically about A.I.-generated content
• Build healthy technology habits and strike a balance

Teaching digital skills with or without devices

As schools experiment with tech-free learning environments, many educators ask an important question: How can students build these media, digital, or A.I. Literacy skills without using devices in class?

The answer lies in discussion, reflection, and peer-to-peer learning.

The Social Institute’s #WinAtSocial approach addresses A.I., cyberbullying, healthy tech habits, and more through a student-centered approach designed to work in both digital and tech-free classrooms. 

Because more than 80% of the learning experience is peer-to-peer discussion, students build real-world skills through conversation, collaboration, and reflection, without requiring additional screen time. This approach allows schools to support modern life skills education while maintaining tech-free spaces during the school day. And the learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. With PD for educators, resources for families, and real-time student insights for leadership, our comprehensive solution equips your entire community with the skills and knowledge to support future success.

What’s Next for Schools

As your school or district explores how to support students, our team at The Social Institute has found it’s best when:

• New solutions align with leadership priorities
• Families and teachers are also equipped
• Community-wide integration is seamless and creates a common language
• Students gain essential skills to support learning, well-being, and their future
• Learning materials are engaging and student-led 
• Overall, school culture benefits

List: Top states advancing media literacy

Across the country, states are embedding media literacy education within existing school frameworks, rather than adding separate courses.

Here’s a brief explanation of the current laws requiring some kind of media literacy instruction by state:

• Alabama: The FOCUS Act bans personal devices during the school day and requires students to receive instruction on the risks and benefits of social media before entering eighth grade.
• California: State law encourages the integration of media literacy and A.I. Literacy into core curriculum frameworks such as ELA, science, math, and social studies.
• Colorado: Colorado updated state academic standards to include media literacy skills and created a resource bank to help districts teach critical media analysis.
• Connecticut: Connecticut requires civics and media literacy to be integrated into social studies instruction and supports schools with a model curriculum that includes digital citizenship.
• Delaware: The Digital Citizenship Education Act requires K–12 schools to teach evidence-based media literacy standards covering topics like credible sources, cybersafety, and responsible technology use.
• Florida: Florida requires instruction for grades 6–12 on social media safety, misinformation, and the social and emotional effects of social media use.
• Georgia: Georgia’s law integrates digital citizenship and responsible social media use into the state’s comprehensive character education program.
• Hawaii: Legislative resolutions encourage the state Department of Education to expand media literacy and digital citizenship programs in schools.
• Illinois: Illinois requires media literacy instruction in high school and mandates annual online safety lessons for students in grades 3–8. It also requires the State Board of Education to create guidelines on using A.I. in elementary and secondary education and how to teach A.I. Literacy.
• Indiana: Mason’s Education Act requires the state to publish approved internet safety curricula to support schools in teaching digital citizenship and online safety.
• Louisiana: A state resolution encourages schools and higher education institutions to expand A.I. Literacy instruction and professional development for educators.
• Massachusetts: Massachusetts encourages schools to expand media literacy instruction across subjects as part of broader efforts to address the risks of sharing harmful, damaging, or inappropriate content online.
• Minnesota: Minnesota embeds information and technology literacy skills within statewide academic standards and graduation requirements.
• Nebraska: Nebraska requires computer science and technology education that includes digital citizenship and media literacy concepts.
• New Jersey: New Jersey requires K–12 instruction in information literacy, which includes media literacy, as part of statewide student learning standards.
• New Mexico: The Digital Equity in Education Act requires schools to include digital citizenship instruction and professional development for educators.
• North Carolina: The Protecting Students in a Digital Age Act requires schools to teach social media literacy, including misinformation awareness and online safety skills, across multiple grade levels.
• Ohio: Ohio’s academic standards include the development of information, media, and technology literacy skills for students.
• Rhode Island: State regulations require the Department of Education to consider incorporating media literacy into the basic education program.
• Tennessee: The Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act requires statewide curriculum on social media safety, misinformation, and evaluating AI-generated content for grades 6–12.
• Texas: Texas requires digital citizenship instruction for students and media literacy training within civics education for teachers and administrators.
• Utah: Utah supports media literacy through digital citizenship programs and a state commission focused on digital wellness and safe technology use.
• Virginia: Virginia requires consideration of media literacy and digital citizenship standards during revisions of statewide academic standards.
• Washington: Washington funds statewide media literacy initiatives, including professional development programs and grants for educators.
• West Virginia: The SWAT program requires the development of technology safety education for elementary and secondary school students, including online safety and trafficking awareness.

These laws and guidelines reflect a growing shift toward supporting modern K-12 students with media literacy, A.I. Literacy, and healthy technology habits as essential life skills that connect to everyday learning. Talk to our team today to learn how #WinAtSocial can help your school or district meet these requirements and support your entire community.

The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in equipping students to navigate learning & well-being in a tech-fueled world. Through #WinAtSocial, our interactive, peer-to-peer learning platform, we empower students, educators, and families to make high-character choices online and offline. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach essential skills while capturing student voice and actionable insights for educators. These insights help educators maintain a healthy school culture, foster high-impact teaching, and build meaningful relationships with families. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips students authentically, enabling our solution to increase classroom participation and improve student-teacher relationships. Through our one-of-a-kind lesson development process, we create lessons for a variety of core and elective classes while incorporating timely topics like social media, A.I., screen time, misinformation, and current events to help schools stay proactive in how they support student health, happiness, and academic success.