We must use chance to make web safer, says Molly coroner
THE opportunity to make the online world a safer place must not be allowed to ‘slip away’ in the wake of Molly Russell’s inquest, her coroner has warned.
Ahead of his verdict today, Andrew Walker said the ‘risk’ the internet had brought to homes across Britain must be recognised – and ‘kept away from children completely’.
The inquest at North London Coroner’s Court is examining the algorithms used by social media firms to push certain content to users and keep them hooked in the wake of the 14-year-old’s death.
Mr Walker said he would not be allowed to make recommendations – but he did want to ‘raise concerns’ over the use of social media by children. This included algorithms that push harmful content on children and the lack of separation between under-18s and adults on the platforms.
His comments came as the children’s commissioner warned children were still being bombarded on social media with content promoting self-harm.
Warning it could lead to a repeat of the Molly tragedy, Dame Rachel de Souza published research showing 45 per cent of children had seen harmful content online.
However only half of the respondents aged eight to 17 who saw such material – which included self-harm and suicide – reported it. After hearing six days of evidence, Mr Walker said: ‘It used to be the case that when the child came through the front door of their home it was to a place of safety.
‘With the arrival of the internet, we brought into our homes a source of risk and we did so without appreciating the extent of that risk.
‘If there is one benefit that can come from this inquest it must be to recognise that risk and make sure that that risk we have so embraced in our homes is kept away from children completely.’
He added: ‘This is an opportunity to make this part of the internet safe and we must not let it slip away. We must do it.’
Oliver Sanders KC, the family’s lawyer, yesterday accused Instagram and Pinterest of being ‘ignorantly blind’ as to their part in Molly’s death.