As a person who is strongly committed to my professional future and going through the steps of applying for jobs and internships, I am continually reminded of the need for digital privacy. Our lives are becoming increasingly intertwined with the digital domain, with our personal information spread across multiple platforms, yet user data protection remains severely inadequate. 

Social media platforms remain the largest data collectors, with billions of users globally exposing their personal, even sensitive, information with a false sense of security. According to a 2019 study by the Pew Research Center, about 79% of US adults are on social media, yet over half (54%) of these users do not fully understand how their data is used and tracked. These statistics are alarming and demand immediate attention. 

One of the most alarming cases is TikTok's data privacy controversy, where its parent company, ByteDance, has been accused of sharing user data with the Chinese government. Investigations have raised concerns that TikTok collects excessive personal information, including keystrokes, location data, and browsing habits. These findings have led to bipartisan efforts in the U.S. to restrict or ban the platform due to national security risks. This highlights a broader issue—tech corporations prioritize profits over user privacy, with little accountability.

I strongly urge legislative action to enhance the protection of user data on social media platforms. This would secure our information and re-establish user trust in the digital landscape. Let's call on our lawmakers to design clear operational guidelines for these major platforms, go beyond simple age consent, and hold them accountable for unauthorized leaks or misuse of user data. 

What We’re Fighting For:
We demand legislative action to implement the following:
✔ Stronger Data Protection Laws similar to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
✔ Full Transparency on how user data is collected, stored, and shared.
✔ Stricter Regulations on Third-Party Data Sales and targeted advertising.
✔ Corporate Accountability for unauthorized leaks, misuse, or manipulation of personal data.

We call on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Congress to enact stronger social media privacy regulations that hold companies accountable for data misuse.

Together, we can ensure our rights to digital privacy are respected and protected. Please sign this petition to take a stand for your digital privacy rights.