Children and teens are increasingly being filmed fighting—on school campuses and in public spaces—often for the purpose of being shared online for entertainment or social media clout. These videos frequently show repeated punches, kicks to the head, and hair-pulling. Both males and females participate, and this behavior is becoming normalized—almost trendy—in our society.

Children and teens, in particular, are immature and often do not fully understand—or may be indifferent to—the harm they are causing others. These videos are exploitative and deeply harmful. Victims can suffer physical injuries as well as severe emotional and psychological trauma, including depression, anxiety, and humiliation that may last for years or even a lifetime.

It is critical to recognize this truth: words, insults, or disagreements are never justification for violence. No one deserves to be assaulted or publicly humiliated, online or offline. Allowing these videos to circulate—whether uploaded by adults, teens, or children themselves—teaches young people that aggression is acceptable and rewards violence with attention and social approval.

Social media platforms have the power—and the responsibility—to act. We call on Twitter/X, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms to:

• Remove all videos showing minors being assaulted or humiliated and ban them from being shared
• Strengthen moderation and enforcement to prevent accounts from profiting from this content
• Promote online safety and awareness initiatives to counter the normalization of cruelty
• Hold individuals accountable—adults, teens, or children—who upload or encourage violent content involving minors

By removing this content entirely, platforms can help reduce the incentive for children and teens to fight for clout, breaking the cycle of exploitation and public humiliation.

Is this the kind of society we want—one so desensitized that we watch children and teens fight for entertainment? By signing this petition, you are standing up for young people, demanding accountability, and sending a clear message: violence is never justified, and human suffering should never be treated as entertainment.

I understand concerns about censorship, and I agree that information should not be suppressed. However, there is an important difference between reporting that something happened and circulating videos of minors being violently assaulted.

Awareness does not require replaying repeated blows to a child’s head or turning violence into content for views, likes, and monetization. These videos are not shared to inform the public—they are shared for shock value and clout, often by other children.

This petition does not call for silencing discussion or hiding problems. It calls for an end to the exploitation and normalization of violence against minors. Protecting children from being used as content is not censorship—it is responsibility.