Governor Sherrill Signs Kids’ Online Safety Bill Package: NJ Kids Code Act, Social Media Research Center

On Aug. 11, Governor Sherrill signed into law a package of three bills designed to promote youth online safety:

• The “New Jersey Kids Code Act” (A-4015 / P.L.2026, c.73):  This law adopts Age-Appropriate Design Code for NJ, requiring covered online service providers to implement certain measures to protect minors’ online safety and privacy. Among its protections, the law
  • limits the data companies can collect and retain from children;
  • establishes safeguards around interactions between minors and adult users;
  • requires platforms to set their default privacy settings for children to the highest level of privacy;
  • restricts certain platform features designed to keep young users constantly engaged;
  • gives children and parents greater control over online experiences, including certain algorithmic recommendations and interactions;
  • provides mechanisms to report harmful experiences; and
  • provides avenues for accountability when standards are violated.

The law goes into effect Sept. 1, 2027.

• Establishing a Social Media Research Center (A-4014 / P.L.2026, c.72): Under this law, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education launched a request for proposals on Aug. 11 to establish a Social Media Research Center at a four-year public institution of higher education in New Jersey. The Center will study the impacts of social media consumption and provide policymakers, families, educators, and communities with recommendations regarding addictive social media behaviors among children and minors.

• Social Media Use and Advertising (S-3412 / P.L.2026, c.71): This law directs the Social Media Research Center (established per above) to research the potential efficacy of warning labels and mandatory disclaimers to reduce addictive social media behaviors among children. Based upon that research, the Center is to issue a final report on its findings and policy recommendations within 18 months and support subsequent rulemaking by the New Jersey Department of Health to deter and reduce addictive social media behaviors among children.

The NJSBA supported the package. “NJSBA is proud to support this legislative package. Technology is advancing at a speed that our safeguards have struggled to match, and our children are living in that gap every day. These measures represent the bold action this moment requires, and they give educators the tools they need to protect the health and well-being of New Jersey’s students,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, NJSBA executive director. “We are grateful to the sponsors, legislative leadership and Governor Sherrill for keeping student safety at the center of this work.”