Social media is making kids sick.

Over 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fuelling a mental health crisis among young people. More than 50% of kids say social media makes them and their peers feel anxious. And mental health specialists say exposure to harmful beauty content on social media can lead to physical consequences like disordered eating or self-harm. [1]

Everybody is affected, but the problems are especially acute for girls and young women.

Social media’s algorithms show us the content it thinks we want, whatever the consequences. That might be harmful beauty content or images that actively encourage self-harm – if it’s ‘engaging’ it gets pushed into our feeds.

Enough is enough.

Too much of the media and public debate around social media pins the blame on individuals, suggesting it is girls’ - or their parents’ - fault for spending too much time online or watching things they shouldn’t.

But that misses the point - social media is designed and intended to be addictive. As a result, it is almost impossible to be in control of our online experiences.

We shouldn’t have to navigate our way to safety online. Instead, social media should be safe by design. Let’s raise this issue up the agenda and make sure that those with the power to change social media take responsibility.

The mental health of girls and young women depends on it.

Global Action Plan's petition is supported by 5Rights, Dove, Parenting Mental Health and Girlguiding UK. #KidsOnlineSafety

[1] Online survey conducted by Edelman DXI, a global, multidisciplinary research, analytics, and data consultancy, in the USA, UK and Canada between January – February 2023 with 1,318 girls, 556 boys, 1,520 parents, 4,046 of the general population and 154 youth mental health specialists (total sample size of 7,594 respondents).