Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)

- Hansard -

I rise to present a petition on behalf of pupils at Dame Allan’s school in Newcastle. The petition was organised by pupils at the school who feel that the use of Photoshop and similar image software to alter photos of people in magazines, newspapers and the internet is having a negative effect on the self-esteem of young people. A similar petition was signed by more than 150 people.

The petition states,

The Humble Petition of the organising group of the pupils of Dame Allan’s School, namely Diane Rasul, Ria Barber, Virginia Barbour and Amarah Latif.

Sheweth that the Petitioners are campaigning to abolish the use of Photoshop and other image altering software programs from use on images of people.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will urge the Government to actively encourage regulators to put an end to the use of these programs which enable the spread of an unrealistic body image.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. [P001464]