Designates first Friday of May of each year as "NJ's Unplug Day."

AJR180

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 180

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� AURA K. DUNN

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Myhre

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates first Friday of May of each year as
"NJ�s Unplug Day".

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating the first Friday of
May of each year as "NJ�s Unplug Day".�

Whereas,
Americans
spend an average of more than five hours per day on their phones; and

Whereas,

In 2024, more than half of Americans wanted to cut down on phone usage
in 2025 and almost half felt as though they were addicted to their devices; and

Whereas,
Psychological
functioning improves when constant connection to the online world is reduced;
and

Whereas,
The amount
of time children spend face-to-face with peers during leisure time has
decreased, and this reduction in social engagement may negatively affect
children and adolescents� development and mental health, which has also been
declining; and

Whereas,
The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends limits on screen time for children at all
ages; however, despite this recommendation, screen time has been increasing
beginning in infancy, fueled by portable devices and amplified during the
COVID-19 pandemic; and

Whereas,
The annual
observance of NJ Unplug Day provides� an enjoyable and innovative way to
improve individuals� well-being by reducing dependence on entertainment screen
media, including television, video games, computers, and hand-held devices,
thus offering time for individuals to go outside, read, create, explore, and
spend more time with family and friends; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The first Friday of May
of each year is designated as "NJ�s Unplug Day".

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the day and
call upon public officials, private organizations, and the citizens of this
State to observe "NJ�s Unplug Day" with appropriate activities and
programs.�

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates the first Friday of May of each year as "NJ�s Unplug Day".�
Annual observance of NJ Unplug Day provides an enjoyable and innovative way to
improve individuals� well-being by reducing dependence on electronic devices.�
According to a 2024 survey, Americans spend an average of more than five hours
per day on their phones.� Mo
re than
half of Americans wanted to cut down on phone usage in 2025 and almost half of
those surveyed felt as though they were addicted to their devices. �According
to a 2025 study, p
sychological functioning improves when constant
connection to the online world is reduced.� Another study asserts that the
amount of time children spend face-to-face with peers during leisure time has
decreased, which may negatively affect their development and mental health.�
Finally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limits on screen time
for children at all ages; however, despite this recommendation, screen time has
been increasing beginning in infancy, fueled by portable devices and amplified
during the COVID-19 pandemic.