Alongside a of team of established researchers and experts already identified, the Center will be directed by Dr. Jessica Hamilton, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator within the School of Arts and Sciences; Dr. Jeffrey Lane, Associate Professor within the School of Communication and Information; and Dr. Vivien Wen Li Anthony, Associate Professor with the School of Social Work.
“We are honored that the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education has selected Rutgers to host the Social Media Research Center. By bringing together researchers from across our campuses and schools, including Rutgers Health, the Center will turn the study of social media’s effects on young people into practical solutions for New Jersey families and communities,” said Rutgers President William F. Tate IV. “We are grateful to OSHE and the Department of Health for their confidence in our work and look forward to a partnership that serves the public good.”
“We are grateful to Governor Sherrill for making youth online safety and mental health a priority in her administration. With State support, the New Jersey Social Media Research Center at Rutgers will conduct rigorous and innovative research that New Jersey children and families, schools, and policymakers can use,” said Dr. Jessica L. Hamilton, Director of the New Jersey Social Media Research Center and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University. “We hope to advance our understanding of social media’s effects on young people and help New Jersey lead the way in developing research-informed solutions to promote well-being.”
Today’s announcement builds on Governor Sherrill’s broader Kids’ Online Safety Agenda to protect children’s mental health and help parents navigate a rapidly changing digital environment. On her first day in office, Governor Sherrill created the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness within the New Jersey Department of Health to coordinate efforts across state government to keep children safe online.
The State of New Jersey will also receive at least $525 million, and could receive over $752 million, under a landmark $17.1 billion multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc. Announced by Attorney General Jennifer Davenport in August, the settlement requires Meta to implement a sweeping set of safety features designed to protect children and teenagers on Instagram and Facebook, directly complementing the Governor’s agenda. Allowable uses for settlement funds include but are not limited to youth mental health programming, crisis intervention services, further investigations to improve online safety, and digital literacy efforts.
What They’re Saying
“Keeping our students safe is a shared responsibility, and today that responsibility reaches into the phones in their pockets,” said Dr. Timothy Purnell, Executive Director/CEO, New Jersey School Boards Association. “NJSBA looks forward to the recommendations the Social Media Research Center will make once its work is complete, and we stand ready to help local boards put them into practice. With the right tools, educators can better prepare students to use social media responsibly and safely. We applaud Governor Sherrill and the Legislature for keeping student safety at the center of our work.”
“New Jersey PTA believes every child deserves to be safe, supported, and protected, both online and offline. As social media continues to play a significant role in children’s lives, we must better understand its impact on their mental health, safety, and well-being. Research is an important step, but meaningful progress requires action from parents, families, policymakers, and social media platforms,” said Dr. April Maxwell-Henley, NJPTA 49th President. “We call on parents and families to stay engaged and informed, policymakers to advance evidence-based protections, and platforms to prioritize children’s safety, privacy, and well-being as we work together toward solutions that put children first.”
“By establishing the new Social Media Research Center, New Jersey is providing a critical service: helping us better understand how social media is affecting our children and how to protect them from the harms of these addictive technologies,” said Julie Scelfo, Founder and Executive Director of Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA). “We look forward to policymakers in New Jersey and beyond using the Social Media Research Center’s work to establish even stronger protections for children’s online safety and privacy. We are deeply grateful to Governor Sherrill for her leadership in making the digital world a safer place for New Jersey children.”
“The Balance Project applauds the State of New Jersey for taking meaningful steps to keep our children safe and healthy online. We see great promise in the new Social Media Research Center, an important investment in further understanding how technology shapes young people’s lives. Its findings will undoubtedly help families, schools, and communities make more informed decisions,” said Holly Moscatiello, Founder and President of the Board of The Balance Project. “We look forward to continuing to advance the conversation on life-tech balance for children, tweens, and teens, across social media and beyond.”
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