Mentions

We are thrilled that states like New Jersey are continuing to step up in passing strong legislation targeting social media companies’ harmful design features to enact safety-by-design and privacy-by-default protections for young people,” Sebastian Mahal, co-chair at the youth-led coalition, Design It For Us, said in a statement.

Nonprofits like the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Design It For Us and the Trevor Project argued that the previous version of AB 1709 would drive teens to darker corners of the internet and limit kids’ access to information and speech online.

Groups in the coalition, guided by youth-led online safety nonprofit Design It For Us, include the American Federation of Teachers, Common Sense Media, InnovateEDU and the National Parents Union.

More than 100 kids’ groups, anti-trafficking organizations and even the NAACP also warned House lawmakers against the quick vote.