ASSEMBLY SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4013

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 19, 2026

      The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4013.

      As reported, this bill requires certain social media platforms to take certain actions concerning user mental health.  Under the bill, a covered social media platform is required to display a black box warning to a covered user (user) when the user initially accesses the platform, when the user exits the platform, after three hours of cumulative active use, and thereafter at least once per hour of cumulative active use.  The black box notifications are required to take up a certain amount of screen space, be displayed for certain lengths of time, and contain warnings about the negative mental health effects associated with social media use as described in the bill.  The bill also requires covered social media platforms to monitor users’ activity on the platform for problematic behaviors as determined by the Commissioner of Health and, upon detection of problematic behavior by a user, inform the user that problematic behavior has been detected on the user’s account and provide the user with resources approved by the Department of Health related to the problematic behavior.

      Additionally, the bill requires advertising of use of a covered social media platform to be based upon fact, not be false, deceptive or misleading, and include a disclaimer about the potential negative mental health impacts of using social media.  Lastly, the bill states that a covered social media platform that violates the provisions of the bill is to be liable for a civil penalty, not to exceed $250,000 per violation.