Social media giants ‘must hand over data to stop a new Molly tragedy’
TECH firms must hand over data on how teens use social media to prevent more youngsters like Molly Russell killing themselves, her father demanded yesterday.
Ian Russell challenged firms such as Facebook and Instagram as he backed a report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which wants to use the information to study how social media affects mental health.
Molly, of Harrow, north-west London, killed herself at 14 in 2017 after viewing self-harm images on Instagram, adding to concerns over a mental illness epidemic caused by social media.
But scientists looking at a rising tide of mental illness are hampered by a lack of data on social media habits of the young. Today’s report has demanded that the firms hand over anonymised data to researchers.
Mr Russell, 57, who wrote its foreword, said: ‘Molly’s suicide smashed like a wrecking ball into my family’s life. I am in no doubt that the graphic self-harm content and suicide- encouraging memes on Molly’s social media feeds helped kill her.
‘Without research using data from social media companies we will never know how content can lead our children to selfharm or, in the most tragic cases, take their own lives.’
He also described a note left by Molly, which said: ‘I’m nothing, I’m worthless, I’m numb,
I’m lost, I’m weak, I’m gone. I’m sorry. I’ll see you in a little while. I love you all so much. Have a happy life. Stay strong xxx.’
The report calls for an independent regulator to manage the sharing of data with universities. It would be anonymous and include the content viewed and the time users spend on social media. Tech giants should also fund studies into the consequences of social media use.
Report co-author Dr Bernadka Dubicka, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: ‘I am seeing more and more children selfharming and attempting suicide as a result of social media use. We will never understand the risks and benefits of social media unless the likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram share data with researchers. Self-regulation is not working.’
Last year, a Lancet study found children who frequently used social media were 40 per cent more likely to have mental health problems.
In today’s report, Mr Russell describes the day Molly died, writing: ‘ The unimaginable shock and horror of bereavement by suicide was supplemented by the realisation that we had not known Molly had been so unwell and we’d therefore not been able to do anything to help her. Our search for answers led us to her social media accounts. We discovered... bleak, depressive material, graphic self-harm content and suicide-encouraging memes.
‘The pushy algorithms of social media helped ensure Molly increasingly connected to her digital life while encouraging her to hide problems.’
The Government said it was developing a duty of care on internet companies, overseen by an independent regulator.
Facebook said: ‘We are already taking steps recommended in this report. We remove harmful content and provide support for those who search for it.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a Samaritans branch.
‘I’m lost, I’m weak, I’m gone’