Hi, I’m Conner, a 20-year-old who’s spent the last few years building a life on social media. By 18, I had grown millions of followers and seen firsthand how powerful these platforms can be. I love social media, but I’ve also seen how it silently shapes people (especially kids) in ways they don’t even notice.

That’s why I’m launching this petition.

Right now, teens spend 6 to 8 hours a day online, yet schools barely talk about how to use social media well. We teach CPR. We teach driver’s ed. But we’re not teaching students how to stay mentally healthy in the digital world they navigate daily?

We’re calling for a simple, one-week “Digital Truth” unit to be added to high school health, P.E., or life skills classes.
No new subject. No costly overhaul. Just a few lessons to help students:

• Understand how algorithms shape what they see
• Recognize early signs of comparison, fatigue, and identity distortion
• Curate healthier feeds that don’t silently fuel insecurity
• Build boundaries and reclaim agency online

This isn’t about banning phones or blaming apps. The problem is most users don’t realize they’re in control of the experience they’re having. They’re curating their own mental health without even knowing it.

I’ve lived both sides of this system, as the 15-year-old glued to a screen and as the creator producing content seen by millions. I know what people aspire to, and I know what it costs.

If we don’t teach kids how to use social media consciously, they’ll keep consuming unconsciously - and suffering for it.

Some eye-opening stats:

• Nearly half of U.S. teens feel addicted to social media
• Teens with 4+ hours/day screen time are twice as likely to report anxiety or depression
• The average teen now spends 49 hours/week on social media — 1 in 10 spend over 80

If you’ve ever compared yourself to a filtered photo or worried about someone you love disappearing into their screen, you know this matters.

Sign the petition. Share it.
Let’s bring Digital Truth to the next generation.

– Conner Mather