New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed three new bills into law Tuesday, all focused on protecting children from potential harms associated with social media and online platforms. The new laws aim to limit the amount of personal data that major technology companies, including Meta, can collect from children. They also increase default privacy protections on children’s accounts and restrict features designed to keep young users constantly engaged online. “With these bills New Jersey is putting real protections in place for our kids online, and giving parents real back up, so they are not fighting this battle alone, accountability starts now,” Sherrill said. The legislation also establishes a new Social Media Research Center, which will conduct independent research into the effects of social media, including its potentially addictive nature and impact on children. The research center is expected to begin operating this fall. The governor says the new laws are designed to give parents additional support while holding technology companies accountable for how their platforms affect young users.