For immediate release
January 26, 2024
VICTORIA, B.C. – Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the BC Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley has issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement on cell phone restrictions in schools and accountability for social media companies:
“Today’s announcement is a step forward in protecting our children in schools. However, a successful ‘no phones’ policy requires more than just bans.
“Technology is now a core part of our education system. To be successful, this strategy should extend beyond restrictions and include investment to ensure all students in British Columbia have the necessary tools and are included and supported.
“We applaud the commitment to ensure that our children are safe online, including beefing up actions to remove explicit images from the internet and holding social media companies responsible for the harms that they cause. We will closely watch the government’s plan for this, and the results they achieve. We welcome the intention to provide treatment and counselling programmes for children affected by online harms – and encourage the BC NDP to invest in mental health supports for all students in B.C.
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Media contactJoJo BeattiePress SecretaryB.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | jojo.beattie@leg.bc.ca