Plan includes new Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and funding for research on digital harms

Gov. Mikie Sherrill visited a New Jersey high school this week to highlight her administration’s efforts to address youth mental health and online safety.

At a visit to Cherokee High School, she outlined new programs aimed at curbing the impact of social media on children.

Joined by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, New Jersey PTA President Jacqueline Gibbs and local school officials, Sherrill discussed what she described as a growing mental health crisis among young people, driven in part by excessive social media use and algorithm-driven content.

“Across the nation, we are facing a stark reality — our kids are struggling with an unprecedented mental health crisis, and social media is playing a big part,” Sherrill said. “We have a responsibility to do better.”

On her first day in office, Sherrill signed an executive order creating the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety within the state Department of Health. The office is intended to coordinate efforts across state agencies to address the effects of digital platforms on children and prioritize youth mental health.

Her proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes $125,000 to support the new office, along with $500,000 to establish a social media research center at a New Jersey public college or university. The center would study how digital technology affects children’s mental health and well-being.

Katz, a sponsor of youth mental health initiatives, said families are increasingly seeing the consequences of heavy social media use, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and exposure to harmful content.

“Now is the time to prioritize the mental health of New Jersey’s youth and make online spaces safer for minors,” Katz said.

Gibbs praised the administration’s focus on student well-being, calling it a “strong message” that children’s safety is a priority. Lenape Regional High School District Superintendent Matt Webb said schools have expanded mental health supports, but emphasized that ongoing attention is needed.