New Jersey Kids Code Becomes Law as Gov. Sherrill Signs Major Online Safety Package for Children
Share, Comment, Like, and Subscribe to support Independent Journalism!
By Adam Rizvi | Editor-in-Chief, The India Observer (TIO): TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed a three-bill package aimed at strengthening online protections for children, giving parents greater tools to protect their families and requiring technology companies to take greater responsibility for the safety and well-being of young users.
The legislation establishes the New Jersey Kids Code, creates a Social Media Research Center at a four-year public institution of higher education, and directs that center to study whether warning labels and other measures can help reduce addictive social media behaviors among children.
The package is part of Governor Sherrill’s broader Kids’ Online Safety Agenda, which focuses on the growing impact of social media, addictive platform design, privacy concerns and harmful online content on young people.
The New Jersey Legislature’s records identify A4015/S3413 as the New Jersey Kids Code Act, requiring covered online service providers to implement measures concerning minors’ use of online services. The legislation passed both chambers in June.
“Big Tech might have stopped politicians in Washington from holding them accountable, but they won’t stop us here in New Jersey,” Sherrill said.
The governor said technology companies have designed platforms to capture children’s attention through increasingly addictive features and argued that parents should not be left to fight the problem alone.
“As a mom of four, I have seen firsthand how social media platforms can affect our kids and how often parents are left to fight this battle alone,” Sherrill said.
The centerpiece of the package is A4015/S3413, the New Jersey Kids Code Act.
The law establishes age-appropriate design requirements for certain online services and requires covered technology companies to design their products with the safety and well-being of minors in mind.
Among other provisions, the law:
- Limits the personal data companies can collect and retain from children.
- Establishes safeguards concerning interactions between minors and adult users.
- Requires the strongest available privacy settings to be applied by default for children.
- Restricts certain platform features designed to keep young users continuously engaged.
- Gives children and parents greater control over certain algorithmic recommendations and online interactions.
- Provides mechanisms for reporting harmful online experiences.
- Establishes enforceable standards and avenues for accountability when covered companies violate those requirements.
The Legislature’s bill materials likewise describe the legislation as establishing protections for minors’ online privacy and requiring covered online service providers to use safeguards designed to provide the highest available level of protection.
A second measure, A4014/S3411, establishes a Social Media Research Center at a four-year public institution of higher education in New Jersey.
The center will study the effects of social media consumption and provide recommendations to policymakers, families, educators and communities concerning addictive social media behaviors among children and minors.
The state has included a $500,000 investment in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the center.
The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education is launching a request for proposals to select a public college or university to establish the center, with the goal of beginning its work this fall.
The Legislature’s records confirm that S3411 establishes the Social Media Research Center at a four-year public institution of higher education.
The third measure, S3412/A4013, directs the Social Media Research Center to examine whether warning labels and mandatory disclaimers could reduce addictive social media behaviors among children.
The center is required to issue a final report containing its findings and policy recommendations within 18 months.
Those findings are intended to help guide subsequent rulemaking by the New Jersey Department of Health.
The legislation builds on actions Sherrill took earlier in her administration.
The governor created the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness within the New Jersey Department of Health to coordinate efforts across state government addressing children’s online safety.
Also Read: Governor Sherrill Joins Opening of Nation’s First Health & Wellness Center at Metropark Transit Hub
New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington described the new laws as a public-health strategy, pointing to concerns including addictive patterns of use, harmful content and online bullying.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said children should be able to use the internet without having their privacy violated or their mental and physical health jeopardized.
The legislation received support from a broad coalition of child-safety, privacy, education and youth organizations.
Supporters cited the need for stronger privacy protections, safer platform design and greater accountability for technology companies.
Common Sense Media, Mothers Against Media Addiction, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the New Jersey PTA, New Jersey School Boards Association and Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey were among the organizations expressing support.
Youth advocates also praised the legislation, arguing that children and families should not bear the entire burden of protecting themselves from platform designs intended to maximize engagement.
Also Read: “Republicans are accountable” for Healthcare Cuts. That Includes Jack Ciattarelli.
New Jersey’s action comes as state governments across the country continue debating how far government regulation should go in addressing social media’s effects on children.
The New Jersey Kids Code takes a safety-by-design approach, shifting some responsibility from parents and children toward the companies that design and operate online platforms.
For New Jersey families, the legislation represents a significant change in the state’s approach to children’s online privacy, safety and digital well-being.
The administration says the goal is not to prevent young people from using technology, but to ensure that digital platforms are designed with children’s safety in mind.
TIO Editorial Note
The question of children’s online safety is no longer simply a technology issue. It is increasingly a question of privacy, mental health, parenting and public policy.
New Jersey’s new legislation attempts to place greater responsibility on technology companies while giving parents and policymakers additional tools and information. The effectiveness of the law, however, will ultimately depend on how its requirements are enforced and how technology companies respond.
The India Observer will continue to follow the implementation of the New Jersey Kids Code and the development of the state’s Social Media Research Center.
The India Observer — Fearless Journalism. Facts Matter.
Read the full story at TheIndiaObserver.com
Support independent journalism by sharing this article, commenting on the issue, and subscribing for future coverage.
Have a story, event, or issue to report?
Email your press release or tip to TheIndiaObserver@gmail.com— TIO covers news that matters. @AdamRizviTIO
This article is based on information released by the Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey legislative records.
