TRENTON – The Kids Code Coalition today applauded the introduction of a package of bills by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-Atlantic, Burlington) to provide safety and privacy to kids online, including the New Jersey Kids Code (A4015), Social Media Mental Health Warnings (A4013), and Establishing a Social Media Research Center (A4014). Advocates including parents, families, educators, and medical professionals hailed the lawmakers’ introduction of the online safety bills as a landmark step in efforts to protect children and teens online.

“As a mom of three teenagers, I see firsthand how central social media is to young people’s lives. It plays a role in all of our lives, and it’s not going anywhere, but we also know the consequences of spending too much time online. Families are seeing the impacts, from increased anxiety, depression, and eating disorders to disrupted sleep and harmful content reaching kids far too easily,” said Assemblywoman Katz. “At a time when social media providers are focused on maximizing engagement, we need to prioritize the mental health of New Jersey’s youths. This package is about making online spaces safer for minors in an ever-changing digital landscape. It’s about warning users about real mental health risks and providing families and educators with the knowledge and information they need to keep minors safe when they’re online.”

The bills are scheduled to come before the New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee for a hearing next Thursday.

“By passing critical social media protections including the New Jersey Kids Code, New Jersey has the opportunity to lead the way, hold Big Tech companies accountable, and stand up for our kids,” said parent advocate Erin Popolo, whose daughter Emily died by suicide in 2021 after intense cyberbullying on Snapchat and Instagram.

The New Jersey Kids Code would require online products and services to provide safety-by-design and privacy-by-default protections for known minors. The other bills would require certain social media platforms to display prominent warnings about potential mental health harms and create a social media research center at a four-year public institution of higher education to study the impacts of social media on children and adolescents. The legislative package aligns with the policy objectives of Governor Mikie Sherrill’s kids’ online safety agenda.

New Jersey joins a growing number of states in embracing the design-centered legislative approach, seizing the opportunity to make a real difference for kids with a proven, resilient model for keeping kids safer online, on social media, and with chatbots.

The Kids Code Coalition is a wide-ranging group of national and state organizations dedicated to improving youth online security and privacy by supporting policies that ensure companies prioritize kids’ and teens’ safety and developmental needs when designing digital platforms and products.

Learn More

• American Academy of Pediatrics – AAP Calls Calls for Creating a Child-Friendly Digital World
• Pew Research Center – Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025
• American Psychological Association – Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth
• Harvard Chan School of Public Health – Social Media Platforms Generate Billions in Annual Ad Revenue From U.S. Youth
• Common Sense Media – Nearly 3 in 4 Teens Have Used AI Companions, New National Survey Finds
• U.S. Surgeon General – Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
• Federal Bureau of Investigation – Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers: Protecting Your Kids
• Children and Screens – UK Age-Appropriate Design Code Impact Assessment

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