Social media responsibility and the death of teen Molly Russell
The Russell family has endured what no family should ever have to, the loss of their daughter at age 14.
Five years later, the UK’s Inquest into Molly’s death has just ended and it is historic. It’s the first time in the world that an Inquest has examined social media’s role in the death of a minor and executives from Pinterest and Instagram were there in person to be questioned about their policies.
The coroner, Andrew Walker, concluded social media content contributed "more than minimally" to her death.
Mr. Walker said that Instagram and Pinterest used algorithms that resulted in there being "binge periods" of material, some of which was selected and provided for Molly without her having even requested it.
"These binge periods are likely to have had a negative effect on Molly. Some of this content romanticised acts of self-harm by young people on themselves. Other content sought to isolate and discourage discussion with those who may have been able to help.
"It is likely that the above material viewed by Molly, already suffering with a depressive illness and vulnerable due to her age, affected her mental health in a negative way and contributed to her death in a more than minimal way."
Andrew Walker, Coroner
Read more about Molly Russell’s Inquest here.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆'𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀' 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗴𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘆.
This is part of a larger trend - parents finding ways to hold social media companies accountable for the harms they are spreading to young people. Decisions to build a social media app and invite 13 year olds on it without proper safeguards has resulted in the loss of life and a decline in mental health for kids and teens. Grieving parents want to make sure social media companies take some responsibility for their actions.
Russell family - thank you for your bravery and endurance. Our hearts are with you.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counsellor.