Opinion | Don’t let TikTok be your child’s only sex ed teacher

Twenty years ago, MySpace was the dominant social media platform, smartphones largely didn’t exist, and we still went to Blockbuster to rent movies. There was no Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, or TikTok. Our current high schoolers hadn’t even been born. 

This was also when Michigan’s current sex education legislation (1976 PA 451) was last updated — in 2004. At the time, Michigan was a national leader in promoting healthy relationships and sex education. But over the past two decades, we’ve fallen behind. Today, sex education policies in 39% of states are ranked better than Michigan’s. To say that our sex education policy is outdated in 2025 is an understatement. Under current law, a school district can be fully compliant while still providing misinformation via decades-old films, outdated curricula, and a climate of fear that prevents educators from providing students with the education they deserve.

One young person shared with us: “In my Michigan public school sex education, we weren’t taught much. It was all perfectly legal, but it didn’t prepare me for the realities of my own body. When I got to college, I had to teach myself. These are things I should have learned long before.” 

This story is not unique. Because our laws governing sex education are so inadequate as to be non-existent, students are turning to social media or forming self-taught sex ed cooperatives to learn this information. Sixty-seven percent of 11-15-year olds in the US use TikTok. While some TikTok content is made by health professionals, the majority of videos, which receive billions of views, are by non-professionals and contain information that may or may not be true. How can we leave our children to fend for themselves, rather than provide them with the information and skills to navigate relationships and their own sexual development? 

Research shows that teenagers actually want to talk to their parents and other adults about these topics, but many parents simply don’t know where to start. House Bill 6068 (HB6068), introduced during the last Michigan legislative session, would have taken a crucial step toward bridging that gap by adding a requirement to teach students how to “communicate with their parents, guardians, and health care providers about relationships, sexual and reproductive health, and well-being.” 

In short, the bill proposed that sex education be medically accurate, evidence-informed, age and developmentally appropriate, accessible, and skills-based. Studies show that students who receive this additional content are more likely than those who receive abstinence-only education to delay sex, have protected sex, use protection, and avoid unintended pregnancy and STIs. Had it passed, this content would have been mandatory across districts in the state, significantly streamlining curriculum while still allowing district-by-district flexibility. These updates mirror changes recently adopted by other states. Beyond this, under the legislation, families would maintain the right to opt their students out of these classes with no penalty. HB6068 was not extreme. It was common sense. 

Just like the concepts it would mandate, the bill had considerable support among the public. Unfortunately, due to the rapid adjournment of the session and noted fear among state legislators, HB6068 did not make it to the floor for a vote. As we consider revisiting the issue this session, we know that some elected officials still worry that comprehensive sex education is not popular with constituents. This is untrue. Research consistently demonstrates that approximately 90% of parents believe comprehensive sex education should be taught in schools. In fact, many assume their children are already receiving it and are frustrated upon learning that this is not guaranteed in Michigan.

It is long past time to update Michigan’s sex and health education standards. Teenagers and their families deserve up-to-date information, resources, and to be taught lifelong communications skills through the lens of safe and healthy relationships.. Let’s set aside the politics and work together on common-sense updates to sex education for the sake of our young people. The Michigan legislature should reintroduce and adopt last session’s HB6068 before another generation of students leaves high school unprepared.