New Jersey Enacts Landmark Kids' Online Safety Legislation

• •New Jersey's Kids Code mandates online safety measures for children.
• •The law shifts responsibility for online safety from families to tech companies.
• •Advocates view this legislation as a significant victory against Big Tech.

On August 11, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the New Jersey Kids Code into law, which includes measures for online safety aimed at protecting children. The law mandates social media platforms to implement age-appropriate design principles and mental health warning labels. Advocates, including parents and youth organizations, celebrated this legislation as a victory against Big Tech's exploitation of children. The law shifts the responsibility of safeguarding young users from families to the platforms themselves, ensuring that privacy and safety are prioritized in product design. This initiative is seen as a significant step in addressing online harms faced by children, with advocates emphasizing the need for systemic changes in how digital products are developed. The legislation also establishes a state social media research observatory to monitor the impact of these changes.