Georgia Cyber Center Hosts Georgia House Study Committee on the Impact of Online Platforms on Youth

Keeping young people safe online is becoming a bigger challenge for families, schools and communities across Georgia.

That conversation came to Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University last week as we hosted the Georgia House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on the Impact of Online Platforms on Youth for its third meeting of a statewide series.

Chaired by Rep. Rob Clifton, R-Evans, the committee is traveling across Georgia to learn more about how social media, online gaming and other digital platforms are affecting young people and to educate families about the risks they may encounter online.

For the Georgia Cyber Center, the conversation was especially relevant. As Georgia’s cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, protecting people is just as important as protecting technology. And when it comes to children and teens, understanding online threats starts with education.

Photo by Michael Holahan/Augusta University
9/10/26 10:32:05 AM

Georgia House Study Committee Examines Online Safety for Youth

The Augusta meeting brought together perspectives from education, law enforcement, government and families, highlighting just how complex online safety can be.

Representatives from Gwinnett County Public Schools shared how the district approaches student online safety, including digital literacy training for faculty, technology safeguards and incorporating digital and AI literacy into the curriculum.

Their presentation also raised an important question for communities across Georgia: How can smaller school districts access the resources they need to provide the same level of protection and education?

Law enforcement officials shared another side of the issue, discussing the increasingly serious threats children can face online. Sgt. Terry Boyd of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation‘s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force spoke about cases involving young people targeted by online groups and predators.

Augusta District Attorney Jared Williams also emphasized the importance of parents understanding the risks their children may face online and knowing how to recognize potential warning signs.

Together, the presentations made one thing clear: There isn’t one solution to keeping young people safe online.

Why Youth Online Safety Is a Cybersecurity Issue

Technology will continue to change, and so will the ways people use it. That makes digital literacy and cybersecurity education increasingly important for young people, parents and educators alike.

At the Georgia Cyber Center, K-12 cybersecurity education is an important part of our work. Through camps, competitions, STEM programming, classroom opportunities and other outreach initiatives, we help Georgia students develop the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an increasingly connected world.

Those efforts aren’t just about preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. They’re also about helping students understand how to protect themselves, their information and one another online.

The conversation hosted at the Georgia Cyber Center reinforced why that work matters.

Photo by Michael Holahan/Augusta University
9/10/26 10:28:41 AM

Bringing Education, Law Enforcement and Community Perspectives Together

Keeping young people safer online requires collaboration.

Parents need information and resources. Schools need tools and training. Law enforcement needs to understand emerging threats. Policymakers need to understand the technology and its impact. And young people need the knowledge and critical-thinking skills to make safer decisions online.

Bringing those perspectives together is part of what makes conversations like this so valuable.

The Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University was proud to provide a space for Georgia leaders and community members to share what they are seeing and discuss how communities can better prepare young people for an increasingly digital world.

Continuing the Conversation About Online Safety in Georgia

The House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee on the Impact of Online Platforms on Youth will continue meeting across the state as it gathers information and perspectives on the issue.

As Georgia works to better understand the impact of online platforms on youth, education and cybersecurity will remain important parts of the conversation.

The Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University was proud to host the committee’s Augusta meeting and contribute to this statewide discussion about keeping Georgia’s youth safer online.

Photo by Michael Holahan/Augusta University
9/10/26 10:14:45 AM

In the News

Coverage of the Georgia House Blue-Ribbon Study Committee’s Augusta meeting:

• WRDW/WAGT: Ga. lawmakers meet in Augusta to examine social media’s impact on kids
• WJBF: GA House examines impact of online platforms on youth at committee meeting
• The Augusta Press: Panel of Georgia state lawmakers meet in Augusta discuss impact of online platforms on youth

Watch the full committee meeting: The meeting is also available online through the Georgia House of Representatives’ video archive.