BSD awaits guidance on plan to ban social media

A clearer direction is needed before the rollout of Manitoba’s proposed social media and AI ban, Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson says, while teachers warn that enforcing a broad classroom ban is not practical and could increase already heavy workloads.

Gustafson said that while schools can help regulate access during the day, social media use extends far beyond the classroom.

“There’s an education aspect to it, but there are also times when students are accessing technology during the school day, so we have a role to play,” he said. “But social media permeates beyond schools — evenings, weekends, vacations — so parents and students will need to be part of that conversation as well.”

Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said the province is considering schools as the first place to implement restrictions, comparing the approach to the 2024 cellphone ban in classrooms.

Premier Wab Kinew announced the plan over the weekend, though details on timelines and enforcement remain unclear.

Gustafson said the division expects more guidance as the plan develops, as the province typically works collaboratively with school divisions beyond initial announcements.

He acknowledged there are growing concerns around artificial intelligence, especially as it becomes integrated into social media platforms. With what he described as a lack of guardrails, Gustafson said there is increasing recognition globally that young people may benefit from stronger protections.

The division’s experience with cellphone restrictions offers some insight into how a broader ban could unfold. Gustafson said implementation was mixed at first, with some challenges tied to students’ emotional attachment to their devices and what they represent — communication, information and social interaction.

Despite those challenges, he said the rollout was largely successful, aided in part by growing public awareness of online risks. Exceptions were also built in, such as for health-related needs, and procedures continue to evolve.

“I think if the cellphone ban had been implemented five years ago, there would have been a different reaction,” he said. “Communities are now more open to measures aimed at protecting youth.”

Still, teachers warn that expanding restrictions to social media and AI tools could create new pressures in classrooms.

Manitoba Teachers’ Society president Lillian Klausen said enforcing a broad ban during school hours could negatively impact instruction.

“It adds to already heavy teacher workloads and takes time away from teaching,” Klausen told the Sun. “Past restrictions have led to inconsistent enforcement and occasional conflict with students and families.”

While she admitted that student safety remains the top priority, Klausen said a full ban may not be the most effective solution.

“A more effective approach is regulated use combined with strong digital literacy education,” she said. “Students will find a way to access these platforms despite bans, so we need to equip them to navigate online spaces safely and responsibly.”

Klausen warned of unintended consequences for teaching and learning, noting a broad policy could limit access to valuable digital and AI tools used to support student engagement and differentiated instruction.

“Without clear distinctions, it could restrict innovative teaching and undermine teachers’ professional judgment,” she said.

She said educators should play a central role in shaping any policy, rather than being tasked as its primary enforcers.

“Teachers need to be at the table when policies like this are developed,” Klausen said.

The province says consultations are underway with school divisions, parents and communities, but with few specifics released so far, divisions like BSD are left preparing for a policy that is still taking shape.

For now, Gustafson said the division remains ready to engage as discussions continue, but said any meaningful approach will require co-operation beyond the classroom — “involving families, educators and government alike.”

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