This bill amends New Jersey's obscenity laws to require online platforms to verify that users are at least 18 years old before they can access sexually explicit material. It defines "sexually oriented online entities" as websites, social media platforms, and other digital services where a significant portion of content or revenue involves such material. The legislation makes it a third-degree crime for these platforms or individuals to knowingly show obscene content to minors without confirming their age. Additionally, the bill establishes legal presumptions regarding a platform's knowledge of its content and the age of its users to enforce these restrictions.
This New Jersey bill requires social media companies to verify the age of all users and obtain explicit parental consent before minors under 18 can create accounts on platforms. To provide consent, parents must submit government-issued identification and credit card information, with a fee of up to 35 cents charged to the card. The law also prohibits direct messaging between adults and minors on social media platforms and mandates that accounts without proper verification be denied access within 14 days. These requirements apply to social media platforms with at least five million worldwide users that allow users to create profiles and share content.
This bill requires New Jersey high schools to teach cybersecurity to students in grades nine through twelve, with the state education commissioner creating curriculum guidelines that cover basic computer skills, internet safety, and career pathways. It also directs the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to develop model curricula for four-year universities and county colleges to help them design cybersecurity degree programs that meet accreditation standards. Additionally, the bill establishes loan redemption programs for individuals working in specific cybersecurity occupations, though the exact terms of these financial incentives are not detailed in the text provided. The legislation aims to build a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals by integrating education from high school through higher education.
This New Jersey bill (A 1358) requires social media platforms to conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments before launching features likely to be accessed by children under 18. It mandates platforms to set high-default privacy settings, document risks to children, and provide clear, age-appropriate privacy information. The law also establishes a New Jersey Children’s Data Protection Commission to oversee compliance. Social media companies operating in New Jersey must implement these measures for any child-accessible features, including tools for children or parents to report concerns.
This bill requires New Jersey public school districts to incorporate cybersecurity education into grades 9-12 curricula, based on state-developed guidelines covering topics like internet safety, computer fundamentals, and career pathways. It also mandates the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to create model cybersecurity curricula for four-year colleges and community colleges to support degree programs. Additionally, the bill establishes a loan redemption program to help repay student loans for individuals working in approved cybersecurity occupations after completing qualifying degrees. These provisions directly affect K-12 schools, higher education institutions, students, and cybersecurity professionals in New Jersey.
This bill expands New Jersey's "Daniel's Law" to protect victim support advocates and victim support care providers by prohibiting the online disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished phone numbers. It requires individuals or entities sharing such information online to remove it upon written notice from an authorized person (like a family member or legal representative). The law imposes criminal penalties for reckless or intentional violations but exempts news media from liability for past publications or directory listings where protection was requested. This directly affects victim support professionals by enhancing their privacy protections against online harassment risks.
This New Jersey bill (A-1260) requires manufacturers and sellers of internet-connected devices to include digital blocking technology that automatically restricts access to obscene material, child pornography, revenge porn, and websites linked to human trafficking or prostitution. It directly affects device companies and minors (who must have blocking active unless they pay a $20 opt-out fee to deactivate it). Key provisions include mandatory blocking of harmful content, a 5-day window to unblock mistakenly blocked material upon consumer report, and quarterly fees ($20 per device) sent to fund the state’s Human Trafficking Commission. The bill is not yet law - it was introduced January 2026 and referred to committee.
This bill (A1381) proposes to expand New Jersey's cyber-harassment law to make it a more serious offense when an adult (18 or older) harasses a minor online, removing the previous requirement that the offender must impersonate a minor. The key change clarifies that targeting minors online with threats, lewd content, or criminal threats becomes a third-degree crime (with potential 3-5 year prison time), while other cyber-harassment remains a less severe fourth-degree offense. It also requires courts to order minors convicted of cyber-harassment to complete educational programs about online safety, and imposes fines on parents who fail to ensure their minor complies with these court orders. The bill aims to strengthen protections for minors by broadening criminal penalties and adding accountability for both offenders and parents.
This New Jersey Senate Resolution (SR 71) urges Congress and the President to enact the federal "Kids Online Safety Act." It does not create new laws but formally requests federal action to address social media's impact on minors. The resolution cites research linking social media use to rising mental health issues among children (ages 8-17), noting increased screen time and documented mental health risks. It specifically calls for the federal act to promote data safety, limit addictive design features, expand parental controls, and prevent harmful content for minors. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects federal lawmakers but does not change current policy.
This New Jersey bill, the "Social Networking Safety Act" (A 2532), prohibits transmitting sexually offensive communications (like sexual solicitations or obscene material) to children under 13 or teens aged 13-15 who are at least four years younger than the sender. It also bans abusive communications (threats, intimidation, or harassment) directed at anyone under 18 on social media. Violators face civil penalties: $1,000 plus fees to the platform operator per violation, and up to $5,000 plus fees or actual damages (including medical costs, counseling, or emotional harm) to the victim. Social media platforms must quickly suspend users who violate these rules upon receiving reports, or face liability unless they have a clear, accessible reporting system for such violations.
