Golden State Today

SACRAMENTO—Today, August 27, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond reconvened the Closing the Digital Divide Task Force to address smartphones, social media, and youth wellness from 8:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building in Sacramento.

The Superintendent’s Closing the Digital Divide Task Force initially emerged from California’s urgent need to bridge technology resource gaps at the beginning of the pandemic. This task force's efforts helped California’s students and families access affordable internet connectivity during distance learning. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-36) and Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-54) joined Superintendent Thurmond for Tuesday’s Task Force hearing, officially reconvening the group amid urgent conversations about smartphone addiction, social media, and youth wellness.

At the hearing, Superintendent Thurmond gathered testimony from educators, parents, and students who have experienced a range of smartphone and social media policies on school campuses—from policies that remove smartphones from the educational environment by placing them in secure, locked pouches to policies that simply disincentivize smartphone use.

Superintendent Thurmond also provided an opportunity for lawmakers to present current relevant bills that seek to keep children safe and healthy at school by restricting smartphone or social media use. Senator Henry Stern (D-27) presented SB 1283, and Assemblymember Josh Hoover presented AB 3216.

"Technology and social media are tools to aid learning, but we also need to balance how those tools impact our youth. The data shows a clear need to address our students’ mental health both at school and at home,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “By listening to the voices of our students, educators, and families, we are better poised to really understand what our students are experiencing online and how we can truly support them.”

Previously, Superintendent Thurmond has prioritized support for students’ mental health as part of his Transforming Schools strategic initiatives. These include his successful effort to create a $20,000 scholarship for Californians who seek to become school-based mental health clinicians. “Our young people need us to lead this effort to protect them online and at school—and they also need us to listen to them, and their parents and teachers so that our policies match our intent,” said Thurmond.

The conversation at today’s hearing built upon existing legislation that empowers California school districts to enact policies that restrict students’ smartphone use. AB 272 (Muratsuchi), which became effective January 1, 2020 affirms the right of school districts county offices of education,and charter schools,to establish policies that restrict students’ smartphone use in schools.

According to a 2024 national survey by HopeLab 73 percent of youth social media users say they unconsciously reach for social media when bored,and 49 percent agree they cannot control their use of social media or end up using it for longer periods than originally intended.In addition Blackand Latino youth are about twice as likely as White youthto takea breakfroma socialmedia account dueharassmentor negative experiences online

A recordingof today’s informationalhearingcan be viewedon CDE Facebook pageat facebook.com/CAEducation

All inquiriesabouttheSuperintendent’sClosingtheDigitalDivideTaskForceshouldbe directedto DigitalDivide@cde.ca.gov