New Jersey Voters Strongly Back Tougher Social Media Rules to Protect Children, Survey Finds
A new statewide survey shows overwhelming support among New Jersey voters for stricter social media regulations aimed at protecting children, highlighting growing public concern over online safety and mental health. The findings reflect a broad consensus across political and demographic groups that stronger safeguards are urgently needed as more young users engage with digital platforms.
The poll, conducted by Stockton University’s William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, reveals that an overwhelming majority of voters favor increased accountability for technology companies. According to the survey, 93% of respondents support requiring social media platforms to meet stronger data privacy standards specifically designed for minors. This strong backing signals a clear demand for stricter protections around how children’s personal information is collected and used online.
Public support also extends to content transparency and mental health awareness. The poll found that 88% of voters want social media companies to introduce warning labels on content that could negatively impact a child’s mental health. At the same time, 79% of respondents support increasing funding for mental health services in schools, reflecting concerns that online exposure is contributing to emotional and psychological challenges among young users.
The survey gathered responses from 642 registered voters and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. Despite this margin, the results consistently show widespread agreement on key issues related to children’s online safety.
Concerns about mental health remain a central issue for voters. According to the poll, 58% of participants consider children’s mental health to be a very serious issue, while another 31% describe it as somewhat serious. A striking 91% believe that social media plays a major role in shaping children’s mental well-being, and 77% express concern about young users being exposed to harmful or inappropriate content online.
This rising concern has already prompted action at the state level. On her first day in office, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order to establish the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety within the New Jersey Department of Health. The move reflects the administration’s recognition of what officials describe as a growing mental health crisis affecting children and teenagers across the state.
Lawmakers are also taking steps to address the issue. A new package of proposed legislation aims to require stricter default privacy settings for minors, limit targeted advertising directed at underage users, and introduce warning labels—often referred to as “black box” alerts—about potential mental health risks associated with certain online content.
Recent legal developments have further intensified the debate. In March, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was ordered to pay $375 million in penalties after a New Mexico jury concluded that the company had misled users regarding child safety practices. The case has added momentum to calls for tighter regulation and increased corporate responsibility.
When it comes to accountability, most voters believe responsibility should be shared. The poll found that 68% of respondents say both parents and social media companies should play equal roles in protecting children online. Meanwhile, 19% believe parents should bear the primary responsibility, and only 12% say the responsibility should fall mainly on technology companies.
The survey also explored public awareness of emerging technologies. Around 70% of respondents said they are familiar with AI-driven algorithms used by social media platforms to recommend content. Among them, 74% support increased government oversight of how these algorithms influence what children see online, while 18% oppose such oversight.
Although the poll shows strong agreement overall, some differences appear along political lines. For example, while support for increased funding of school-based mental health services is high overall, 93% of Democrats support the measure compared to 59% of Republicans. Despite these differences, both groups largely agree on the need for improved online safety measures.
The findings also indicate that women tend to express slightly higher levels of concern regarding children’s mental health and online safety compared to men. However, the issue remains widely recognized across all segments of the population.
The survey results come at a time when social media usage among young people continues to rise. Studies show that up to 95% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 use social media platforms. Even among younger children aged 8 to 12, about 40% are active users despite most platforms setting a minimum age requirement of 13.
These trends, combined with growing awareness of the potential risks, are driving increased demand for policy changes. The latest poll makes it clear that New Jersey voters are not only aware of the challenges but are also strongly in favor of taking action to better protect children in the digital age.
Sources:
Stockton University William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, New Jersey Department of Health, New Mexico Court Records, National Library of Medicine
