Governor Mikie Sherrill Signs Landmark A4015 New Jersey Kids Code Online Safety Act

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed into law Assembly Bill 4015, establishing the landmark New Jersey Kids Code Act to regulate how social media platforms, online gaming networks, and digital applications handle the personal data and behavioral designs of minors under 18.

Mandating Privacy by Design and Banning Addictive Algorithms

The enacted statute requires digital consumer tech platforms to configure user accounts for minors with the highest privacy settings by default, prohibiting commercial profiling, geolocation tracking, and automated autoplay features designed to maximize screen time. The legislation mandates Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) prior to releasing new digital features and authorizes the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs to assess civil penalties up to $7,500 per intentional violation.

Governor Sherrill affirmed that protecting children's mental health in the digital age requires bold legislative guardrails, holding Big Tech companies accountable for predatory design patterns.

Child Safety Coalitions and Tech Trade Reactions

Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) and pediatric mental health coalitions celebrated the enactment as essential protection against cyberbullying and digital addiction.

NetChoice and tech industry trade associations expressed concern regarding constitutional commercial speech constraints and age-verification compliance costs.

Statutory Implementation Date

The New Jersey Kids Code Act takes legal effect across all commercial online services operating in the state on July 1, 2027.