New Jersey’s Kids Code Act sets strict rules for kids’ online safety
New Jersey passed the Kids Code Act to enhance online protections for minors.
Why it matters: Legal teams must ready clients for compliance with stringent child-centered privacy and design rules before September 2027. The law introduces private lawsuits and substantial penalties, signaling tougher enforcement in digital services aimed at children.
- Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Kids Code Act (A4015) into law on August 11, 2026.
- The law takes effect September 1, 2027, applying to online services accessible to minors.
- It mandates high-privacy defaults, bans harmful design features, and restricts algorithmic content and notifications during school hours.
- Violations permit private lawsuits and carry statutory damages of $5,000 per incident.
On August 11, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill enacted the Kids Code Act (A4015), aiming to enhance digital protections for children. Prompted by concerns about online safety and mental health impacts, the law joins a wave of state-level initiatives targeting child data and design standards.
Effective September 1, 2027, the Act requires online service providers to implement privacy-by-default settings and prohibit features that exploit minors’ attention, such as engagement-maximizing designs. It bars algorithmic content recommendations to minors and disallows platform notifications during school hours to reduce distractions.
Governor Sherrill called out major tech companies as having "designed platforms that hijacked our kids' attention spans," emphasizing the necessity of such regulation. New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard E. Washington highlighted protecting children from addictive platform use and harmful content as a public health priority. Attorney General Jennifer Davenport stressed the importance of protecting children from privacy violations and manipulation online.
The Act grants parents and minors a private right of action, allowing them to sue companies for violations with statutory damages set at $5,000 per incident. This strong enforcement mechanism aims to hold digital platforms accountable for safeguarding minors.
Independent legal analysts, such as the Children’s Data Forum, note that the Kids Code Act is among the most comprehensive state laws governing digital children's rights, aligning with emerging federal discussions on child online privacy.
Legal counsel advising technology providers and digital service firms should begin assessing compliance strategies now to meet the September 2027 deadline. This law exemplifies a broader regulatory trend emphasizing children's rights in digital environments and could foreshadow similar statutes nationwide.
By the numbers:
- $5,000 — statutory damages per violation under the Kids Code Act
- September 1, 2027 — effective date for compliance
- August 11, 2026 — date Governor Sherrill signed the bill into law
What's next: States including California and Maryland continue advancing similar child-focused digital safety laws, with federal proposals under review that could harmonize standards.