ASSEMBLY SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4014

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 19, 2026

      The Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4014.

      As reported, this bill establishes a Social Media Research Center at a four-year public institution of higher education for the purpose of carrying out collaborative and interdisciplinary research, analysis, and outreach activities to help New Jersey navigate the usage of social media, particularly among children and adolescents. The Secretary of Higher Education is required to choose the four-year public institution of higher education at which the center will be hosted.

      The center will conduct research to understand social media use, mitigate the negative impacts of social media, and promote healthy and responsible social media use. The center’s research, analysis, and outreach activities will include: (1) establishing online courses and training modules concerning safe social media use, which would be made available to public schools in the State; (2) researching age-appropriate screen times and content; (3) making recommendations to the Legislature, Governor, and key stakeholders to address the mental, physical, and behavioral health challenges posed by social media use; (4) studying the impacts of social media consumption on the residents of the State; and (5) conducting public awareness campaigns to promote the responsible use of social media and media literacy.

      The bill authorizes the center, in addition to its own research, to administer a grant program for research on social media.  Research funds under the grant program will be awarded on the basis of scientific merit under a competitive peer review process, and all qualified investigators will have an equal opportunity to compete for grant funds.

      The bill requires the four-year public institution of higher education hosting the center to submit a report on the work of the center to the Governor and the Legislature one year following the establishment of the center, and every five years thereafter.  The report is required to include information on the center’s current research projects, funding utilized, and the future direction of its research.  If the center administers a grant program, the report is to also include information on the grants awarded and the program’s accomplishments.  In addition, the center and any recipients of grants awarded by the center will provide copies of their research publications to the Governor, the Legislature, and any State departments or agencies that supplied data used in connection with the research.

      Under the bill, the Social Media Research Center is to be funded through an annual appropriation by the Legislature, and by any grants, gifts, donations, or other additional funds received by the center from public or private sources for research related to social media.