I’m a 37-year-old mother-of-three.

I’m not sure if you are aware but there is a docudrama film on Netflix called “/the social dilemma.”

The film explores the rise of social media and the damage it has caused to our society.

Social Media focuses on its exploitation of it users for their own financial gain through surveillance capitalism and data mining.

It also explores its design to nurture an addition, it’s use in politics, it’s effect on mental health in adolescents and the rise of teen suicide and self harm rates.

My eldest child is 14 and does have social media with limitations, however it’s something that is almost impossible to surveillance and we have noticed much lower self esteem and confidence since it’s download.

I feel with the right help and support from wherever I can find it- We could help reduce the suicide rates, self harm rates and mental illness rates for our future generation.

I feel as students their grades would improve as well as self esteem and confidence.

We don’t sell alcohol, cigarettes or vaping products to children or young people under the age of 16 & 18 without valid photographic id, so I find it baffling that social media sites such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok etc are allowing children from 13 to join.

Quite often there children who are under the age of 13, joining by just changing their date of birth on the registry site.

I recently bought a set of cooking knives from John Lewis who would not take payment from me until I had validated my age with photo evidence.

Please sign and share my petition and help our future generation.

https://www.change.org/Raise-social-media-age-16

Joanna S

Petersfield