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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY DAY IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, social media can be a force for the greater public good, providing a means for beneficial entertainment, education, socialization, and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, social media has also demonstrably caused significant and widespread harm to the public, especially children; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning on May 23, 2023, stating that “there are increasing concerns among researchers, parents and caregivers, young people, healthcare experts, and others about the impact of social media on youth mental health” with such concerns including anxiety, eating disorders, depression, and suicide; and
WHEREAS, social media is additionally used to facilitate cyberbullying, privacy invasion, fraud, human trafficking, sexual harassment, sexual predation, hate, and misinformation; and
WHEREAS, social media platforms are routinely used to facilitate the sale of illegal narcotics which has resulted in multiple deaths nationwide, and
WHEREAS, other segments of society such as domestic violence survivors are also at increased risk of social media-related harms; and
WHEREAS, a University of Chicago Crime Law Report noted that teachers and school administrators report that a large share of in-school conflicts originate in social media disputes; and
WHEREAS, studies have found that hate groups, terrorist organizations both domestic and foreign, left- and right-wing extremists, and street gangs are using social media platforms to recruit new members, threaten and harass individuals, incite violence, and post violent videos; and
WHEREAS, studies have further found that such groups further utilize social media as a way to communicate about and organize their activities including flash mobs and organized retail thefts which are significantly and adversely impacting businesses and communities throughout Cook County and across the country, and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive approach on social media that promotes best practices across education, public policy, and technology increases our ability to protect families from these threats; and
WHEREAS, Cook County should continue to undertake efforts to mitigate and prevent current and emerging social media-related threats, provide guidance to those at risk, and bring awareness to the benefits and challenges of social media; and
WHEREAS, establishing a Social Media Safety Day will serve to promote efforts and awareness for the protection of our families and communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President, Commissioner Donna Miller and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners by the adoption of this Resolution hereby designates October 3, 2023, as Social Media Safety Day in Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body.
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