"Florida Governor Empowers Teachers to Regulate Social Media in Classrooms"

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed several bills impacting schools, including one that gives teachers the authority to restrict social media use in classrooms. The law allows teachers to establish classroom rules on cell phone and device use during instructional time, and could allow them to require students to hand over their phones at the beginning of class. DeSantis said the law could help children steer clear of the distraction and influence of social media, and that instructional time in the classroom is more important. The new laws come amid a major education overhaul led by DeSantis and Florida Republicans, which has also included bans on critical race theory and "woke activism."