Woman’s Own is campaigning for children under the age of 16 to be banned from using social media in the UK in our Young Minds Offline! campaign.

We're speaking to real people with first-hand experience of the dangers of social media in relation to young people, giving them a platform to tell their stories so we can lobby for change. 

Online, children are at risk of being exposed to harmful content - they're suffering mental health issues, being bullied, groomed, taking part in dangerous trends, even taking their own lives. 

Social media has become deeply rooted in society, but during a child’s formative years, when they are young and impressionable, exposure to online content comes with risks that far outweigh the benefits. 

With so many lives having already been lost or changed irrevocably, one more child harmed as a result of their online presence is one too many. 

By banning children under 16 from using social media in the UK, we believe it will help by:

• Stopping online bullying
• Preventing children from being targeted by online predators
• Reducing exposure to harmful, explicit and violent content
• Protecting mental health and preventing the exacerbation of issues such as addiction, depression and self-harm

How will it work?

• Social media companies should be responsible for ensuring that under-16s are not able to create a profile
• New users should be verified with a form of valid age identification
• The onus should be on tech companies, not parents - i.e. companies with users breaching the age restriction should be held accountable with substantial fines
• The ban should also be extended to social interaction on platforms with those capabilities, such as apps and gaming platforms

PLEASE NOTE: It is free to sign the petition - this is not a fundraiser so no donation is necessary.

After signing the petition, you’ll receive an email asking you to confirm your signature. Please don’t forget to confirm, otherwise your signature won’t count!