The undersigned, as an active user of major social media platforms—including but not limited to Instagram (owned by Meta Platforms, Inc.) and TikTok (owned by ByteDance Ltd.)—has been persistently and involuntarily subjected to an excessive volume of sexually explicit, psychologically disruptive, and ideologically charged content. This includes material promoting interracial sexual relationships, feminisation, transgender identity, gender-nonconforming portrayals such as “femboys,” and similar themes that the user has neither interacted with nor solicited. The unsolicited and frequent exposure to such content, particularly through automated feed curation, constitutes a breach of the user's reasonable expectation of digital autonomy, privacy, and neutrality in content delivery.

Despite public-facing commitments by both Meta and ByteDance to “connect users with the people and things they love” or to “inspire creativity and bring joy,” the algorithmic practices employed by Instagram and TikTok increasingly reveal a concerning pattern. These platforms deploy opaque and manipulative algorithms that amplify sensationalist or harmful content while systematically obscuring educational, positive, or requested content. The lack of transparency, user control, and accountability in these systems raises serious concerns regarding algorithmic bias, surveillance-based targeting, and deliberate behavioral conditioning.

The consequences of such algorithmic conduct extend beyond user annoyance or inconvenience. These practices have far-reaching social and developmental ramifications, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents. The neurological and emotional well-being of young users is being compromised, potentially resulting in cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, and long-term developmental delays. These harms are subtle yet systemic and may be described as a silent epidemic perpetuated by platforms prioritising user engagement metrics over human welfare.

In light of the foregoing, the undersigned calls for sweeping reform across both Meta and ByteDance platforms. This includes, but is not limited to, the following remedial actions:

• Immediate transparency and publication of the methodologies and inputs used in content curation algorithms;
• Restoration of user-centered feed options, including chronological or interest-based feeds;
• Introduction of clear user control over recommendation systems;
• Implementation of robust fairness and equity measures in content distribution practices.

In further pursuit of justice and user protection, the undersigned supports the initiation of a global class-action lawsuit in the year 2025 against Instagram, TikTok, Meta Platforms, Inc., and ByteDance Ltd. The claims advanced in such litigation should include, without limitation:

• The intentional design and deployment of addictive platform features known to exploit cognitive vulnerabilities;
• Direct contribution to widespread mental health issues, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and screen addiction;
• Gross negligence and willful disregard for the mental health of minors and the general public.

Meta shareholders are urged to support legal proceedings against CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other high-level executives whose actions have allegedly led to billions of dollars in shareholder losses. Investors, institutional and retail, are encouraged to short Meta stock as an act of financial dissent. Likewise, stakeholders of ByteDance are called upon to demand transparency, corporate accountability, and ethical reform, including through shareholder action or divestment.

Companies—regardless of size—are further urged to immediately cease all advertising on platforms owned by Meta and ByteDance, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp, until verifiable corrective measures are implemented.

This statement additionally endorses the pending Federal Trade Commission (FTC) antitrust action against Meta Platforms, Inc., which alleges unlawful monopolistic conduct through the acquisition of competitors like Instagram. Should the FTC prevail and a divestiture be ordered, it is critical that any successor entities demonstrate a credible, enforceable commitment to mitigating the mental health harms caused by social media platform design and algorithmic manipulation.

Likewise, this statement endorses the pending lawsuit on behalf of 33 U.S. states filed against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, alleging that the platform's features are harmful to young users' mental health and that Meta has misled the public about these dangers. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, claims that Meta designed its platforms, particularly Instagram, to be addictive, leading to potential mental health issues in children and teenagers.  

In conclusion, Meta Platforms, Inc., ByteDance Ltd., and their respective subsidiaries, along with other social media platforms, are hereby formally called upon to initiate immediate reforms. These corporations must take demonstrable steps toward transparency, user autonomy, and public accountability. Members of the global public are likewise encouraged to sign and circulate this petition as a unified demand for justice, safety, and fairness across all major digital platforms.