Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To: Governor of California, State legislature
I am writing to urge your attention to a matter of critical importance: the well-being of our youth in the digital age. As a concerned citizen of California, I respectfully request your support for legislation to ban children under the age of 17 from accessing social media platforms within the state.
Social media platforms have become pervasive in the lives of young people, shaping their perceptions, behaviors, and even mental health. However, mounting evidence suggests that unrestricted access to social media can have detrimental effects on the psychological, emotional, and social development of minors.
Here are several compelling reasons why such legislation is necessary:
1. Mental Health Concerns: Numerous studies have linked excessive social media use among adolescents to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The constant pressure to present a curated version of oneself online can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, especially among impressionable young minds.
2. Cyberbullying Epidemic: Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for cyberbullying, with devastating consequences for victims. Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to online harassment, which can have long-lasting psychological effects and, in extreme cases, lead to self-harm or suicide.
3. Privacy and Online Predation: Young users may not fully understand the implications of sharing personal information online, making them easy targets for predators and identity thieves. Banning minors from social media would help safeguard their privacy and protect them from potential exploitation.
4. Impact on Academic Performance: Excessive use of social media has been shown to interfere with academic performance and concentration levels in school. By limiting access to these platforms, we can promote a healthier balance between online engagement and educational pursuits.
5. Developmental Concerns: Adolescence is a crucial period of growth and self-discovery, yet excessive screen time can hinder healthy development. By encouraging offline activities and face-to-face interactions, we can foster social skills, creativity, and emotional resilience in our youth.
In light of these compelling reasons, I urge you to consider supporting legislation that restricts children under the age of 17 from accessing social media platforms in California. By taking proactive measures to protect our youth from the negative impacts of social media, we can promote a safer, healthier, and more vibrant future for generations to come.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue. I stand ready to support and advocate for any legislative efforts aimed at safeguarding the well-being of our children in the digital age.
Sincerely,
Soheila Riazi
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Updates
December 31, 2024
The tech giants are ignoring the damage they inflict on our kids while they profit off their mental health. I am tired of waiting for these predators to self-regulate when it is clear they never will.
December 31, 2024
The momentum behind this is undeniable and it is putting the state legislature on notice. These tech giants are poisoning our kids for profit and we are finally forcing the Governor to look at the damage they have caused.
9 Comments
My daughter is constantly on her phone and her grades are suffering so much. Please just get rid of these apps for kids.
Kids dont need snapchat or tiktok at 13 years old. take it away.
My son is addicted to it and I can not stop him
The data on anxiety, depression, and a double in suicide rates in young people makes this a national, as well as international, health crisis. The silence from Silicon Valley is deafening. These tech corporations are responsible for killing our children after robbing them of their childhoods. New legislation in many states does not allow safe or effective controls to protect our children. Meta, ByteDance, X, Snap, and Discord combined to spend a staggering $30 million on lobbying last year — and employed one lobbyist for roughly every four members of Congress. Our lawmakers have sold the welfare of our nation's children. Suicide rates today are higher for adolescent girls than at any point previously recorded. Suicide rates are higher for girls aged 10 -17 in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand than any previous generation in history when they were young. This mental health crisis is caused by social media and our lawmakers, who willingly accept their bribes.
Shoul be banned in India aswell. Also require content filtering.
Ban it, but keep YouTube please, and ban Skibidi Toilet
No social media to children
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
To: Governor of California, State legislature
I am writing to urge your attention to a matter of critical importance: the well-being of our youth in the digital age. As a concerned citizen of California, I respectfully request your support for legislation to ban children under the age of 17 from accessing social media platforms within the state.
Social media platforms have become pervasive in the lives of young people, shaping their perceptions, behaviors, and even mental health. However, mounting evidence suggests that unrestricted access to social media can have detrimental effects on the psychological, emotional, and social development of minors.
Here are several compelling reasons why such legislation is necessary:
1. Mental Health Concerns: Numerous studies have linked excessive social media use among adolescents to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The constant pressure to present a curated version of oneself online can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, especially among impressionable young minds.
2. Cyberbullying Epidemic: Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for cyberbullying, with devastating consequences for victims. Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to online harassment, which can have long-lasting psychological effects and, in extreme cases, lead to self-harm or suicide.
3. Privacy and Online Predation: Young users may not fully understand the implications of sharing personal information online, making them easy targets for predators and identity thieves. Banning minors from social media would help safeguard their privacy and protect them from potential exploitation.
4. Impact on Academic Performance: Excessive use of social media has been shown to interfere with academic performance and concentration levels in school. By limiting access to these platforms, we can promote a healthier balance between online engagement and educational pursuits.
5. Developmental Concerns: Adolescence is a crucial period of growth and self-discovery, yet excessive screen time can hinder healthy development. By encouraging offline activities and face-to-face interactions, we can foster social skills, creativity, and emotional resilience in our youth.
In light of these compelling reasons, I urge you to consider supporting legislation that restricts children under the age of 17 from accessing social media platforms in California. By taking proactive measures to protect our youth from the negative impacts of social media, we can promote a safer, healthier, and more vibrant future for generations to come.
Thank you for your attention to this important issue. I stand ready to support and advocate for any legislative efforts aimed at safeguarding the well-being of our children in the digital age.
Sincerely,
Soheila Riazi
Updates
December 31, 2024
The tech giants are ignoring the damage they inflict on our kids while they profit off their mental health. I am tired of waiting for these predators to self-regulate when it is clear they never will.
December 31, 2024
The momentum behind this is undeniable and it is putting the state legislature on notice. These tech giants are poisoning our kids for profit and we are finally forcing the Governor to look at the damage they have caused.
9 Comments
ABOUT TIME. social media is rot for teenagers brains.
My daughter is constantly on her phone and her grades are suffering so much. Please just get rid of these apps for kids.
Kids dont need snapchat or tiktok at 13 years old. take it away.
My son is addicted to it and I can not stop him
The data on anxiety, depression, and a double in suicide rates in young people makes this a national, as well as international, health crisis. The silence from Silicon Valley is deafening. These tech corporations are responsible for killing our children after robbing them of their childhoods. New legislation in many states does not allow safe or effective controls to protect our children. Meta, ByteDance, X, Snap, and Discord combined to spend a staggering $30 million on lobbying last year — and employed one lobbyist for roughly every four members of Congress. Our lawmakers have sold the welfare of our nation's children. Suicide rates today are higher for adolescent girls than at any point previously recorded. Suicide rates are higher for girls aged 10 -17 in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand than any previous generation in history when they were young. This mental health crisis is caused by social media and our lawmakers, who willingly accept their bribes.
Shoul be banned in India aswell. Also require content filtering.
Ban it, but keep YouTube please, and ban Skibidi Toilet
No social media to children
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ABOUT TIME. social media is rot for teenagers brains.