Technology (Social Media)

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3071: Requires EDA to include social media development services in services offered through Small Business E-commerce Support Program.

This bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to add social media development services to its existing Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The program currently provides e-commerce and digital marketing consulting to eligible small businesses (like restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses in commercial locations), and this bill mandates that social media platform development assistance be included alongside current offerings like website and digital marketing support. It applies only to this specific pilot program under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, established by the 2020 Economic Recovery Act. The change would take effect immediately upon enactment, but the requirement ends when the pilot program terminates.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates inclusion of social media development services in small business tech support program, advancing digital tools for businesses per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3833: Establishes Distraction Free Schools Grant Program; appropriates $2 million.

This bill establishes a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to promote limited student use of cell phones and social media during school hours and school events. Schools applying for grants must submit plans to reduce device distractions, while the Department of Education will develop best practices covering age-appropriate policies, emergency exceptions, and device storage options. Participating schools must annually report on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the Department compiling statewide results. The program targets all public schools in New Jersey, with grants awarded competitively based on regional diversity and need.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $2M for grants to reduce device distractions in schools, directly funding initiatives to improve academic performance and school environment per bill summary.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student cell phone/social media use in schools, directly limiting technology access during educational hours per bill's purpose to reduce device distractions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 2739: Prohibits social media platforms from promoting certain practices or features of eating disorders to child users.

This bill would prohibit social media platforms from promoting content related to eating disorders - such as diet products, extreme weight loss practices, or harmful eating behaviors - to users under 18. Platforms must conduct quarterly internal audits and annual independent audits to ensure their algorithms or features don’t contribute to eating disorders in children, and fix any issues within 30 days if identified. Small platforms with less than $100 million in annual revenue are exempt from the audit requirements. The bill does not hold platforms liable for user-generated content unless the platform paid to promote it (e.g., via advertisements).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents social media promotion of eating disorder content to minors, directly protecting youth mental health and reducing risk factors requiring healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill regulates social media algorithms to prevent harmful content promotion for minors, aligning with consumer protection regulations in digital rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1358: Concerns social media privacy and data management for children and establishes New Jersey Children's Data Protection Commission.

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.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates child data protection measures including assessments, high-default privacy settings, and oversight commission to advance data privacy protections for minors on social media platforms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3299: Establishes Distraction Free Schools Grant Program; appropriates $2 million.

This bill creates a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to develop policies limiting student cell phone and social media use during school hours and school events. Schools receiving grants must create age-appropriate policies that include exceptions for emergencies, health needs, and accommodations for students with disabilities, while promoting alternatives like phone lockers and network restrictions. Participating schools must report annually on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the state later evaluating the program's effectiveness compared to non-participating schools. The program directly affects public schools seeking funding to address distractions, not individual students or parents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates $2 million for grants to develop school policies limiting cell phone/social media use, aiming to improve learning environments and student focus in K-12 education.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts student cell phone/social media use in schools via grants, limiting technology access in educational settings per bill's policy requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

AR 101: Urges generative artificial intelligence and content sharing platforms to make voluntary commitments to prevent and remove harmful content.

AR 101 is a non-binding resolution urging major generative AI and social media platforms to voluntarily commit to preventing and removing deepfakes (manipulated videos/images falsely depicting people) and cheapfakes (AI-altered content). It targets companies that host or distribute such content, asking them to proactively address harms like disinformation, blackmail, and reputational damage. The resolution does not create new legal requirements but encourages industry action, aligning with similar efforts by the federal government and 12 other states. It was introduced to the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on January 13, 2026.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyUrges voluntary removal of harmful AI content (deepfakes/cheapfakes) to prevent disinformation and reputational harm, aligning with consumer protection in tech policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1324: Requires social media companies to take certain actions concerning accounts maintained by or featuring minors.

New Jersey's bill A-1324 requires social media companies with at least 5 million global users to implement specific safety measures for minors under 18. Key provisions include developing algorithms to detect inappropriate adult-minor interactions, real-time monitoring for abuse with automatic reporting to authorities, and blocking minor accounts from appearing in search results unless the searcher is a pre-approved contact. The bill also mandates geo-fencing to restrict minors' access to inappropriate content, verification processes for accounts using minors' names/likeliness in over 25% of paid promotional posts (requiring parental ID), and public banners identifying verified adult accounts. Enforcement falls to the Division of Consumer Affairs, with fines up to $2,500 per violation for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates social media for minor safety, requiring privacy-focused algorithms and abuse monitoring, aligning with data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1659: Requires social media companies to establish toll-free telephone number for NJ account holders to report fraudulent account actions.

This bill requires social media companies with at least five million global users to establish a 24-hour toll-free phone number for New Jersey residents to report account fraud, such as unauthorized access. Social media companies must display this number in security email alerts sent to New Jersey account holders and on their platform's homepage or help page. Failure to comply would violate New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act, resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and potential additional penalties like cease-and-desist orders. The law directly affects large social media platforms operating in New Jersey, aiming to provide residents with a direct, accessible channel for security concerns.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires social media companies to provide fraud reporting mechanism, enhancing user data privacy and security protections under Consumer Fraud Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2374: Requires law enforcement develop protocol for social media in certain circumstances.

This bill requires New Jersey's State Police and all local police departments that use social media to post about missing persons or wanted persons to create and follow a clear protocol for removing those posts. Specifically, the protocol must mandate removal within six months after the person is found (for missing persons) or after arrest/dismissal (for wanted persons). The law aims to prevent outdated posts from causing real harm, such as job denials or unnecessary scrutiny for individuals no longer missing or wanted. It directly affects law enforcement agencies that publicly share this information online, ensuring their social media content stays current.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires removal of outdated social media posts to prevent harm, protecting civil rights and enhancing police accountability in law enforcement practices.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates removal of outdated social media posts about missing/wanted persons to prevent privacy harms, directly protecting data privacy as per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Social Media

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 3064: Requires social media platforms to cooperate with nonprofit organization initiatives to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos.

This bill requires social media platforms with at least five million global users to cooperate with designated nonprofit organizations (like StopNCII.org and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Take It Down initiative) to remove nonconsensual intimate images or videos. It mandates that platforms establish procedures for nonprofits to flag and request removal of such content - including AI-generated deceptive media - and requires immediate takedown of flagged material pending review. The law defines "nonconsensual" broadly, covering cases where victims didn’t consent, minors were involved, or deceptive media misrepresented individuals. Social media companies violating the law face fines up to $20,000 per offense. The bill directly affects platforms serving New Jersey users and protects individuals targeted by nonconsensual sharing of intimate content.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates social media platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate content, directly protecting user data privacy and digital rights through content takedown procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Media

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