California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 203

Introduced by Assembly Member Chau

August 19, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 203—Relative to Digital Citizenship Week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 203, as introduced, Chau. Digital Citizenship Week.

This measure would recognize the week of October 16, 2016, to October 22, 2016, inclusive, as Digital Citizenship Week.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The recognition of Digital Citizenship Week is
proposed in simultaneous recognition of National Bullying
Prevention Month, Connected Educator Month, and National Cyber
Security Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, The goal of Digital Citizenship Week is to raise
awareness about the importance of digital citizenship as a set of
defined, teachable skills for kids in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Digital media is driving significant changes to the
ways that children live and learn, and those changes bring exciting
opportunities, such as new career paths and innovative means of
self-expression; and

WHEREAS, Digital media also poses potential dangers,
including cyber bullying and exploitation, if not managed
appropriately though education or other means; and

WHEREAS, A Common Sense report, Zero to Eight: Children’s
Media Use in America, finds that technology and media use begins
at an increasingly young age, with as many as 38 percent of
children under 2 years of age using mobile devices for media in
2013; and

WHEREAS, According to the 2015 Common Sense Census:
Media Use by Teens and Tweens, teenagers use an average of nine
hours of media daily, not including media use for school or
homework; and

WHEREAS, The 2015 Common Sense census also finds that
one-half of teens interfere with their own learning by multitasking
with social media while doing their homework; and

WHEREAS, Parents, educators, students, and lawmakers play
a role in making sure children learn how to navigate the digital
world safely and responsibly; and

WHEREAS, Digital citizenship means that children appreciate
their responsibility for their choice of content as well as their
actions when using the Internet, cell phones, or other digital media;
and

WHEREAS, To be responsible digital citizens, children must
be digitally literate, which means being able to use and understand
the many different types of digital technologies and messages; and

WHEREAS, This new media literacy should become an integral
part of children’s education that is woven into the overall
curriculum across grade levels, starting as early as kindergarten;
and

WHEREAS, The nation whose children best harness the
educational and creative powers of digital media will write the
economic and education success stories of the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature believes in training and educating
teachers and parents to help children understand and manage digital
media’s role in their lives through additional investments in that
training and education; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes October 16,
2016, to October 22, 2016, inclusive, as Digital Citizenship Week;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.