S 3412 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires Social Media Research Center to research and make recommendations concerning addictive social media behaviors.*

S 3412 would require certain social media platforms in New Jersey to display a black box warning about mental health risks to users, similar to health warnings on tobacco products. The bill targets platforms primarily designed for social connection (like Facebook or TikTok) that have users in New Jersey, excluding services focused on news, entertainment, or e-commerce. This requirement is based on findings that youth social media use exceeding three hours daily doubles risks of depression and anxiety, and platforms are aware of these harms. The warning must be displayed on platforms meeting the bill's definition of "covered social media platforms," affecting all users of those services in the state.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Signed Aug 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Senate Committee Substitute → Reprint · 8 edits

MODERATE

The General Assembly amended S 3412 (social media youth mental health) on June 30, 2026 with several substantive changes: it narrowed the definition of 'online service' to focus on interactive content platforms and added exclusions for email, telecommunications, broadband, and physical product services; it replaced the data-processing requirement in the 'covered online service provider' definition with a simpler 'reasonably likely to be accessed by a child or minor' standard; it added an exclusion for entities that solely provide direct messaging; it removed the legislative finding about the Governor's executive order; and it eliminated the 30-month deadline for the commissioner to adopt implementing rules.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'online service' was completely rewritten. It no longer covers any internet service that processes personal data. Instead, it now requires four elements: accessible via the Internet, displays user-generated content, has an account holder in New Jersey, and allows interaction with other users' content as a central feature. This narrows the scope significantly to interactive social platforms.

In subsection a(4)(b), the threshold of 25,000 was changed from 'users' to 'consumers,' aligning terminology with the state's consumer privacy law.

SCOPE

New exclusions were added for 'online service': telecommunications services (47 U.S.C. s.153), broadband internet access services (47 C.F.R. s.8.1), email services, and the sale, delivery, or use of a physical product.

The 'covered online service provider' definition in subsection a(3) was changed from requiring that the entity uses personally identifiable information to select, recommend, or prioritize media AND determines purposes/means of processing personal data, to simply requiring that its online services are 'reasonably likely to be accessed by a child or minor.' This broadens coverage by removing the data-processing requirement.

A new exclusion was added: a 'covered online service provider' does not include an entity that solely provides a direct messaging service or product (e.g., text-only messaging apps).

The legislative finding in section 1(f) about Governor Sherrill's Executive Order No. 6 establishing the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness was deleted entirely, along with the related renumbering of subsequent subsections.

References throughout sections 3 and 5 were changed from 'children and minors' to 'covered children and covered minors,' limiting obligations to only those individuals the provider has actual knowledge are children or minors.

TIMELINE

The 30-month deadline for the Commissioner of Health to adopt rules implementing the research center's recommendations was removed in section 5, giving the commissioner no fixed timeframe for rulemaking.

Introduced → Senate Committee Substitute · 10 edits

MAJOR

The Senate Committee Substitute completely transforms the bill from a direct regulatory mandate into a research-and-recommendation framework. The introduced version required social media platforms to display mandatory black box warnings, monitor users for problematic behaviors, include advertising disclaimers, and face civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation. The substitute instead establishes a Social Media Research Center at a state institution of higher education to study addictive social media behaviors among children and minors and recommend potential warning label designs, with the Commissioner of Health potentially adopting rules based on those findings within 30 months.

Scope change

The bill shifted from applying to all users of covered social media platforms with direct regulatory mandates to a narrower focus on children and minors, using a research-first approach where specific regulatory requirements will be determined later based on the center's findings. The legal basis also changed from supplementing Title 56 (consumer protection) to Chapter 62 of Title 18A (higher education), reflecting the new role of a university-based research center.

SCOPE

The bill's core approach shifted from directly mandating platform behavior (warnings, monitoring, penalties) to establishing a research center that will study the issue and make recommendations. The Commissioner may then adopt rules based on those recommendations, but no specific regulatory requirements are imposed at this time.

The bill now specifically targets children (under 13) and minors (ages 13-17) rather than all users, and focuses on 'addictive social media behaviors' as determined by the Commissioner of Health.

REQUIREMENT

All mandatory black box warning display requirements were removed, including the requirement to show warnings on first access/exit (occupying 25% of screen for 10 seconds) and after 3 hours of use (occupying 75% of screen for 90 seconds without ability to dismiss).

The requirement for platforms to monitor users for 'problematic behaviors' (3+ hours daily use, accessing within 10 minutes of waking, 10+ posts per day) and notify users upon detection was removed.

The requirement that social media advertising include a disclaimer about potential negative mental health impacts was removed.

ENFORCEMENT

The civil penalty provision allowing up to $250,000 per violation through the Penalty Enforcement Law was removed entirely.

DEFINITION

New definition of 'covered online service provider' with specific thresholds: gross revenue exceeding $25,000,000 (adjusted for inflation every 2 years starting January 1, 2029) or processing personal data of at least 25,000 users or households annually. Also defines 'child' as under 13 and 'minor' as 13 to under 18.

TIMELINE

The Social Media Research Center must issue a final report within 18 months of the effective date. The Commissioner may adopt implementing rules no later than 30 months after the effective date.

Effective date changed from six months after enactment to immediate effect.

FISCAL

The bill now references coordination with the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness established by Executive Order No. 6 (January 20, 2026) and a research center at a state institution of higher education, creating an interagency coordination framework.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (31-9)

upper

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (68-9-2)

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Assembly Floor Amendment Passed (Voice) (Katz)

lower

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (30-10)

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

upper

5 primary · 9 co-sponsors