Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a three-bill package Tuesday aimed at studying the effects of social media on children and creating new online privacy and safety protections for minors.
“Big Tech might have stopped politicians in Washington from holding them accountable, but they won’t stop us here in New Jersey,” Shertill ssid. “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.
The legislation, sponsored by State Sens. Raj Mukherji (D-Jersey City) and Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), will establish a Social Media Research Center at a New Jersey public college or university and direct it to study potentially addictive social media behavior among young people.
“Young people are facing unprecedented mental health challenges, and we have a responsibility to better understand the factors that may be contributing to this crisis,” Mukherji said.
Under S-3411, the new center will research the effects of social media use, develop educational materials and recommend potential public policies to address harmful online behavior.
A companion measure, S-3412, directs the center to specifically study addictive social media behavior among young people and make recommendations on possible warning labels, advertising disclaimers and other measures intended to reduce harmful effects.
Greenstein said parents and educators are increasingly concerned about the pressures children face online.
“This legislation recognizes that urgency by ensuring we have the research and tools necessary to better understand the impact of social media and take the necessary steps to protect young people’s mental health,” she said.
A third bill, S-3413, establishes the New Jersey Kids Code Act, imposing new requirements on certain companies that provide online services likely to be used by minors.
The law restricts advertising directed toward children, limits the collection and use of minors’ personal information and requires covered online services to make their highest available privacy and safety protections the default settings for minors.
The package represents part of a broader effort by the Sherrill administration and state lawmakers to confront concerns about youth mental health and the role social media may play in anxiety, depression and other problems affecting children and teenagers.”
Supporters say the new research center could give policymakers a stronger New Jersey-specific foundation for determining whether additional restrictions on social media platforms are warranted.
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