Social media is a relentless driver of gun violence, according to researchers, police and community leaders from across the United States. Teens post photos or videos of themselves with guns and stacks of cash, sometimes calling out rivals, on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok. Small boasts and disputes online can escalate into deadly violence in schoolyards and on street corners.
New Jersey public schools are now required to provide free period products to students in grades 6-12. A new law mandates that schools must stock at least half of their female and gender-neutral bathrooms with tampons and menstrual pads. Research shows many teens miss class time because they lack access to menstrual products, which can be expensive.
As children head back to school, two issues have climbed higher on their parents' list of concerns: the role of social media and the internet in kids' lives.