The issue:  
The impact of social media on our lives is undeniable, and its influence on young minds is of particular concern. Currently, most social media platforms set their minimum age requirement at 13+ years old, following the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). However, loopholes within this system allow children to bypass these restrictions with minimal effort. A study by Ofcom in 2020 showed that over 20% of 8-to-11-year-olds and 70% of 12-to-15-year-olds have their own social media profiles. Such early exposure can put them at risk of cyberbullying, online sexual predators, body dissatisfaction, and comparison leading to mental health issues. We urge legislators to require parental monitoring features to be available on all forms of social media for individuals under the age of sixteen. Parents should be able to monitor activities, establish usage restrictions, and get alerts for possible dangers like inappropriate content or cyberbullying through these technologies. It is crucial to protect young users from online threats, and this regulation will encourage safer online environments for kids and teenagers. To encourage appropriate social media use and protect our children, please sign this petition! 

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, but its negative impact on young users cannot be ignored. Studies have shown that excessive social media use among minors is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content, including self-harm, eating disorders, and online predators. Despite existing age restrictions (such as the 13+ requirement on most platforms), these policies are often unenforced, allowing children far younger to access potentially dangerous spaces online. We believe that social media companies must be held accountable for enforcing age restrictions through more robust and verifiable age verification systems that go beyond self-reported birth dates. We propose that lawmakers enact policies requiring social media platforms to:
 

1. Implement Effective Age Verification Measures – Social media companies should be required to use secure and reliable methods such as government-issued ID verification, parental consent systems, or AI-driven age detection to ensure compliance with age restrictions. 

2. Hold Platforms Accountable for Violations – Companies that fail to enforce age restrictions should face significant penalties, including fines and temporary suspensions. 

3. Enhance Parental Controls & Transparency – Platforms should provide stronger parental controls, regular reporting features, and clear guidelines on how they monitor underage accounts. 
4. Limit Harmful Content Exposure to Minors – Strict algorithms should be put in place to prevent minors from being exposed to harmful content related to mental health, self-harm, substance abuse, and predatory behavior. 
The safety of children and adolescents should not be compromised for corporate profit. By enacting stricter age verification laws, we can take a crucial step toward creating a safer online environment that prioritizes mental health, security, and responsible digital engagement. 

Facts and Solutions: 
 “The unprecedented exposure of today's youth to the Internet and technology carries many benefits but also risks such as cyberbullying and online predation. The incidences of both cyberbullying and adolescent suicide are rising in the United States, with recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showing that 14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6 percent of adolescents have made a serious suicide attempt”  
High Rate of Underage Users – Studies show that up to 40% of children under 13 use social media, despite platforms requiring users to be at least 13 years old. Many bypass restrictions by entering false birth dates. 
Mental Health Risks – Excessive social media use among minors is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, poor self-esteem, and suicidal ideation, according to research from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
Cyberbullying and Online Harassment – A 2022 Pew Research Center study found that 59% of U.S. teens have experienced cyberbullying, which can lead to severe emotional distress. 
Exposure to Harmful Content – Algorithms often expose minors to dangerous trends, eating disorders, self-harm content, and online predators. Reports show that social media contributes to body image issues, especially among teenage girls. 
Ineffective Current Policies – Most platforms rely on self-reported age verification, which is easily bypassed. Without stronger measures, young users remain vulnerable to harmful online environments. 
Proposed Solutions for the Petition 

Implement Government-Mandated Age Verification – Require social media platforms to use secure, verifiable methods, such as: 
Government-issued ID checks (e.g., passport or driver’s license) 
AI-based age detection (used in gaming and other digital services) 
Parental verification systems for users under 16 
Enforce Penalties for Non-Compliance – Platforms failing to properly verify users should face fines, content restrictions, or temporary suspensions until compliance is met. 
Improve Parental Controls & Reporting Systems – Social media companies must provide transparent, easy-to-use parental monitoring tools, allowing caregivers to set screen time limits and monitor online interactions. 
Restrict Harmful Content for Minors – Mandate that platforms flag and restrict content related to self-harm, eating disorders, and online predators from being shown to underage users. 
Educational Initiatives – Schools should incorporate social media literacy programs to teach students about online safety, misinformation, and responsible digital habits. 

Call to action:  
1. Government & Policy Makers 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – The FTC enforces online child privacy laws like COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). File complaints and push for stronger regulations. 
Contact: www.ftc.gov/contact 

Your U.S. Senators & Representatives – Urge lawmakers to support or introduce legislation on age verification and online child protection. 
Find your representatives: www.congress.gov/members 

State Attorney General Offices – Many state attorneys general advocate for online safety reforms. Contact them to push for local action. 
Find your AG: www.naag.org 

 Advocacy & Child Safety Organizations 
Common Sense Media – A nonprofit that advocates for safer digital experiences for kids. 
Website: www.commonsensemedia.org 

Center for Humane Technology – An organization pushing for ethical tech policies to reduce social media harm. 
Website: www.humanetech.com 

Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) – Advocates for policy changes and online safety education. 
Website: www.fosi.org 

References: 
Bark. (2025, March 6). Parental Controls for Families | Bark. https://www.bark.us/ 
SentryPC. (n.d.). SentryPC - Parental Control & Employee Monitoring Software. https://www.sentrypc.com/ 
Parental control and digital wellbeing software | Qustodio. (2025, March 6). Qustodio. https://www.qustodio.com/ 
Ehmke, R. (2025, March 4). How using social media affects teenagers. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/#:~:text=Social%20media%20affects%20teenagers'%20mental,esteem%2C%20anxiety%2C%20and%20depression 
Goldfield, G., PhD. (2023, December 31). Can the negative impact of social media use on body image in youth be reversed? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/no-more-fomo/202312/the-effects-of-social-media-use-on-teens-body-image#:~:text=Key%20points%201%20Social%20media%20and%20body%20image,media%20use%20can%20improve%20body%20image%20in%20youth.?msockid=23a09a79815169d039158e6880936849 
The Digital Wellness Lab. (2024, September 16). Young people, body image and social media. https://digitalwellnesslab.org/research-briefs/social-media-body-image/ 
 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”). (2023, February 3). Federal Trade Commission. https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
Goldfield, G., PhD. (2023, December 31). Can the negative impact of social media use on body image in youth be reversed? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/no-more-fomo/202312/the-effects-of-social-media-use-on-teens-body-image#:~:text=Key%20points%201%20Social%20media%20and%20body%20image,media%20use%20can%20improve%20body%20image%20in%20youth.?msockid=23a09a79815169d039158e6880936849
Ehmke, R. (2025, March 4). How using social media affects teenagers. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/#:~:text=Social%20media%20affects%20teenagers'%20mental,esteem%2C%20anxiety%2C%20and%20depression 
Child Mind Institute. (2025, February 19). Screen Time & Technology - Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/topics/screen-time-technology/