Petition · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Require social medias to have an opt-out for short-form scrollable content

Open for signatures 39 signatures

What the petition asks

The government should mandate for social media platforms to have an opt-out feature for short-form scrollable content on their platforms. The algorithms that social media platforms employ are addictive by design, and are most effective on short-form content such as 'Reels' on Instagram.
I feel that the implementation of such a regulation would reduce the addictive nature of such platforms and hence would improve productivity. The short-form content of these sites is addictive by nature and can cause individuals to spend hours upon hours stuck on these platforms due to the dopamine rush that it brings. The opt-out feature would allow individuals to take back control of their social media without having to give up access to it, reducing addiction and likely improving mental health.

Timeline

8 Jun 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 39
Status Open for signatures
Department Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Opened 8 Jun 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.