Protect vulnerable teens from online misinformation
The Issue
Our story is familiar to many families who have navigated the complexities of digital influences on their children. Our 16 year old daughter, who is autistic, has spent countless hours online, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many parents, we've watched with concern as she has absorbed unchecked information, leading her to believe she is transgender, primarily influenced by online platforms and peer discussions.
The saturation of social media content and peer pressure can skew perceptions, making it harder for impressionable young people to make informed choices. This is a broader societal issue where misinformation can lead to irreversible life changes made without the necessary understanding or support.
It seems very difficult to find sources we can point our daughter to which give an evidence-based view of medication and surgery available for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Evidence increasingly shows there are very far from good outcomes for many who choose to go down the pathway of medication and surgery and all who do it face a life time of drug taking and surgery side effects.
When we visit the NHS website of our local GP they refer our daughter to a local LGBTQ+ group, and when our daughter started college they allowed her to change the name on her card and pronouns to he/him. It seems like we are fighting against the whole world to stop our daughter from medically transitioning.
We urge the government to take action by:
Fully enforcing the Supreme Court Ruling, the Equality. Act 2010, the EHRC guidance and KCSIE 2026 across the NHS and the education sector.
Please ensure that public funding is directed toward neutral, evidence-based mental health and safeguarding services rather than local groups that push vulnerable, neurodivergent children down a path of medical transition.
Please sign this petition to protect our children and advocate for responsible sharing of sensitive information on social platforms, with measures tailored to consider and support neurodivergent youth.
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The Issue
Our story is familiar to many families who have navigated the complexities of digital influences on their children. Our 16 year old daughter, who is autistic, has spent countless hours online, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many parents, we've watched with concern as she has absorbed unchecked information, leading her to believe she is transgender, primarily influenced by online platforms and peer discussions.
The saturation of social media content and peer pressure can skew perceptions, making it harder for impressionable young people to make informed choices. This is a broader societal issue where misinformation can lead to irreversible life changes made without the necessary understanding or support.
It seems very difficult to find sources we can point our daughter to which give an evidence-based view of medication and surgery available for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Evidence increasingly shows there are very far from good outcomes for many who choose to go down the pathway of medication and surgery and all who do it face a life time of drug taking and surgery side effects.
When we visit the NHS website of our local GP they refer our daughter to a local LGBTQ+ group, and when our daughter started college they allowed her to change the name on her card and pronouns to he/him. It seems like we are fighting against the whole world to stop our daughter from medically transitioning.
We urge the government to take action by:
Fully enforcing the Supreme Court Ruling, the Equality. Act 2010, the EHRC guidance and KCSIE 2026 across the NHS and the education sector.
Please ensure that public funding is directed toward neutral, evidence-based mental health and safeguarding services rather than local groups that push vulnerable, neurodivergent children down a path of medical transition.
Please sign this petition to protect our children and advocate for responsible sharing of sensitive information on social platforms, with measures tailored to consider and support neurodivergent youth.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 22 September 2026