NJ A4014

Establishes a Social Media Research Center at a four-year public institution of higher education in New Jersey, with the Secretary of Higher Education selecting the host institution.

The center will conduct interdisciplinary research on social media's effects on children and adolescents, including studying age-appropriate screen times, content impacts, and mental/physical/behavioral health challenges.

Research activities include developing online courses and training modules on safe social media use for public schools, conducting public awareness campaigns, and making policy recommendations to the Legislature and Governor.

The center may administer a competitive grant program for social media research, with awards based on scientific merit through a peer review process modeled on the National Institutes of Health.

Requires reports to the Governor and Legislature one year after establishment and every five years thereafter, funded through annual legislative appropriations and public/private donations.