Governor Glenn Youngkin continued his “Parents Matter” series in Stafford County, addressing the challenges children face due to social media, a theme he’s tackled in various Virginia regions.

Highlighting the event was a testimony from a mother, Georgia Athenry, who shared a personal story about her child’s struggle during middle school. Once a top-performing student, her son felt pressured by the shifting focus of the curriculum and expressed feelings of depression and hopelessness. A concerning online search led him to a potentially harmful social media site, taking their family through a challenging period. Fortunately, he is now thriving in a governor’s school program.

Athenry’s story resonated with many of the 100 attendees, emphasizing the broader mental health issues emerging post-COVID-19, as noted by Governor Youngkin. With social media’s influence, instances of self-harm among teenagers have alarmingly doubled. Youngkin revealed that 80% of Virginia teenagers engage deeply with social media daily, and a quarter have 24-hour access.

Expressing concern, Youngkin remarked, “They’re essentially taking their phones to bed. The ongoing mental health crisis is severely impacting our children.”

Supporting Youngkin’s sentiments, Delegate Tara Durant from Stafford said, “Hearing such stories breaks my heart. It’s essential to spotlight the risks of social media – cyberbullying, privacy breaches, identity theft, and increased suicidal tendencies – while urging parents to be actively involved in their children’s lives.” Durant’s statement mirrored the central theme of the “Parents Matter” discussions.

The governor also highlighted Virginia’s declining academic standards, stating that the state had regressed significantly in its expectations for student performance. The challenges only increased with the closure of classrooms due to the pandemic, with Virginia witnessing the country’s most significant learning gaps, particularly in fourth-grade math.

Youngkin also discussed plans to revamp the curriculum and emphasized the importance of early literacy. He suggested that children who aren’t reading proficiently by third grade might never catch up. A suggestion was made by Juliette Schreider, an attending parent and teacher, for a supplementary “third grade and a half” program to help struggling students.

Further ideas included mandatory sessions for parents and students to recognize social media’s dangers and calls for increased funding for innovative educational programs. Youngkin highlighted the recent $100 million grant by the General Assembly to the state education department for pioneering education initiatives. Presently, 20 innovative “lab schools” are in the works, and collaborations are underway between institutions like Germanna Community College and the University of Mary Washington to address learning gaps and promote STEM education.

In conclusion, Youngkin emphasized, “Our mission is to equip our children with the tools to navigate life effectively.”