N.J. advances plan to educate kids about potential risks of social media

 The Twitter mobile site app. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

The Twitter mobile site app. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Legislation that would help educate young people about the dangers of social media is now awaiting final legislative approval in the New Jersey Senate.

One of the bills sponsored by Sen. Jim Beach requires the state Education Department to provide instruction for students in grades six through eight on how to use social media safely.

His other measure directs the Department of Law and Public Safety to launch a social media responsibility campaign about the importance of privacy when using the Internet.

“Mistakes that young people make today can haunt them the rest of their lives,” he said. “Colleges take a look at social media. Future employers also take a look at social media before they employ someone.”

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The goal is to get students to consider the consequences before posting messages and images online, said Beach, D-Camden.

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