SR431: SR431 Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee; create

25 LC 56 0411S (SCS) Senate Resolution 431 By: Senators Harrell of the 40th and Anavitarte of the 31st ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intel ligence on Children and1 Platform Privacy Protection Study Committee; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, in the 21st century, children utilize social media thr ough various online3 platforms as a means to participate in society, access information, enjoy entertainment, and4 connect with family and friends; and5 WHEREAS, studies have shown that utilizing social media can have negative impacts on a6 child's health and self-esteem; and7 WHEREAS, children undergo rapi d and evolving physical, mental, and emotional8 development, rendering them more susceptible to the allure of p eer pressure, novelty, and9 rewards inherent in online social media usage; and10 WHEREAS, extensive research shows that online social media platforms are embedded with11 manipulative design techniques which promote addictive and compulsive use by children in12 order to increase revenue; and13 S. R. 431 - 1 - 25 LC 56 0411S (SCS) WHEREAS, studies show that utilizing current social media platforms can expose children14 to significant privacy and safety risks; and15 WHEREAS, artificial intelligence provides persons the opportunity to engage with greater16 numbers of children in more targeted ways than ever before; and17 WHEREAS, children are now exposed to chatbot websites and apps, powered by artificial18 intelligence, that purport to allow children to interact with c haracters from popular media19 while actually engaging those children in obscene conversations; and20 WHEREAS, existing online protections addressing children are outdated; and21 WHEREAS, a study is needed to evaluate the impact social media usage and artificial22 intelligence has on children and to determine how existing online privacy protections may23 be improved and strengthened to ensure safer access.24 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:25 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Impact of Social26 Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Priv acy Protection Study27 Committee.28 (2) Members and officers. The President of the Senate shall appoint five members of29 the Senate and shall designate two of such members as cochairpersons of the committee. 30 One such cochairperson shall be a member of the majority party and one such31 cochairperson shall be a member of the minority party.32 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,33 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or34 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.35 S. R. 431 - 2 - 25 LC 56 0411S (SCS) (4) Meetings. The cochairpersons shall call all meetings of the committee. T h e36 committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem37 necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform38 its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.39 (5) Allowances and funding.40 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided41 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.42 (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member43 of the committee for more than four days unless additional days are authorized. Funds44 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds45 appropriated to the Senate.46 (6) Report.47 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that48 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file a report of the49 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to50 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.51 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for52 proposed legislation, the cochairpersons shall file the report, s u b j e c t t o53 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.54 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of55 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 56 A report so approved shall be signed by the cochairpersons of the committee and filed57 with the Secretary of the Senate.58 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the cochairpersons m ay file with the59 Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu60 thereof.61 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.62 S. R. 431 - 3 -