Multiple Connecticut schools closed last week after learning about a series of threats made through social media. Bridgeport, Ansonia, Waterbury, and Bristol were some of the school districts affected.
According to CT Insider, no one was harmed but many school districts decided to err on the side of caution, asking teachers to keep their doors locked, opting for early dismissals or even shutting down school for the day.
A series of arrests have been made as the threats were investigated. According to Stamford Advocate, “Ansonia police said a 13-year-old girl admitted making the threatening post on social media” and “was charged in juvenile court with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace.” Additional arrests have been made in Meriden, Norwalk, Waterbury, and Bridgeport, according to NBC CT.
This rise in threats comes in the face of a recent uptick in school shootings. According to Stamford Advocate, “Since Sept. 4, when police say a 14-year-old opened fire at a Georgia high school, killing two students and two teachers, dozens of threats have rattled Connecticut schools and communities,” resulting in evacuations and lockdowns throughout Connecticut just hours later.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and Governor Ned Lamont visited Barnard Environmental Science and Technology School in New Haven last week to talk with students about the dangers of technology. According to News 12 Connecticut, “Students are calling for tighter restrictions on social media companies amid a wave of online school threats across Connecticut.”
The high number of threats originating online has brought more conversation to the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which Blumenthal proposed to Congress. According to his website, KOSA “Creates a duty for online platforms to prevent and mitigate specific dangers to minors, including promotion of suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and advertisements for certain illegal products,” among other things. It has passed through the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the House.
During the meeting with New Haven students, Blumenthal said, “The senate passed a stronger bill by a 91-3 margin, and I hope that the house will look to the senate bill.”
According to News 12 Connecticut, a House of Representative committee has made the wording in KOSA more generic, instead requiring social media companies to prevent “promotion of inherently dangerous acts that are likely to cause serious bodily harm, serious emotional disturbance or death.” The House is projected to vote on this bill sometime this fall, but its future is uncertain.