ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia lawmakers are laying the groundwork for possible new regulations aimed at protecting children online, as concerns grow over social media use and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in schools and homes.

After five months of testimony from parents, educators, mental health professionals, and technology experts, a special bipartisan study committee concluded that current state laws have not kept pace with how children use digital platforms today.

The committee’s newly released 33-page report outlines concerns many Georgia families say they are already facing, including excessive screen time, online addiction, data privacy risks and the increasing use of AI tools by children in classrooms and at home.

Lawmakers emphasized the goal is not to ban technology, but to create what they describe as a “responsibility framework” for companies, schools and policymakers.

“We’re at a critical point where we can either turn this around — or it’s going to get worse,” said Democratic state Sen. Sally Harrell.

Among the recommendations: expanding Georgia’s bell-to-bell cellphone ban to include high schools, limiting addictive design features on digital platforms, strengthening privacy protections for minors, and placing guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence in schools.

Republican state Sen. Shawn Still said he expects resistance from the tech industry.

“The technology companies don’t want this... but we’re going into battle to protect our children,” Still said.

Technology companies have argued decisions about screen time and AI use should be left to families, warning that state-level regulations could stifle innovation and create a patchwork of inconsistent rules nationwide.

Some students, however, argue that limits are necessary. Seventeen-year-old Lambert High School senior Ankita Jaikumar, who leads Students for Students, said AI use in classrooms can undermine learning.

“I definitely think that AI usage should be mitigated and maybe even removed from the classroom,” Jaikumar said.

Emory University marketing professor David Schweidel said parents are often told to manage technology use at home, but many don’t fully understand what tools or settings are available to them.

“If you go into a store to buy cigarettes, there’s a big warning label,” Schweidel said. “If social media and AI came with warnings about mental health risks, would people use them the same way?”

The committee’s report does not change state law on its own. Instead, it serves as a roadmap for potential legislation lawmakers could introduce in future sessions.

Lawmakers are set to meet again in January, when any proposals would still face debate, amendments and public input.

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