Molly Russell: Sector supports coroner's recommendations to protect children online

Coroner Andrew Walker told an inquest, held at North London Coroner's Court, that unsafe online content contributed to Molly Russell's death "in a more than minimal way".

Recording a narrative verdict, he ruled that the 14-year-old "died from an act of self-harm while suffering depression and the negative effects of online content".

The inquest heard that, prior to her death in 2017, Molly was exposed to extensive harmful content across various online platforms, relating to depression, self-harm and suicide.

Hannah Ruschen, senior child safety online policy officer at NSPCC, described Walker's decision as a “landmark ruling” due to his acknowledgement of the dangers of online harms.

She welcomed a report by the coroner which lays out a series of recommendations to government around children's online safety as “another step towards ensuring no more children are exposed to the horrendous content experienced by Molly Russell on social media”.

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Walker's prevention of future deaths report outlines the findings of the inquest and has been sent to Michelle Donelan, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, and a number of social media companies - including Pinterest and Meta - which were used by Molly prior to her suicide.

Recommendations in the report urge the government and social media platforms to consider:

• Reviewing the provision of internet platforms to children, in relation to harmful online content

• Implementing separate platforms for children and adults

• Age verification to access platforms

• The role of social media algorithms in providing content

• The use of advertising

• Parental/carer control, including access to material viewed by their child

Walker also recommends that the government consider using an independent regulatory body to monitor online content across platforms, in relation to these recommendations.

The relevant parties must respond to the report within 56 days of receipt.

Responding to the report, a spokesman for The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF), a suicide prevention charity founded in Molly’s name by her family and friends, said: “The MRF supports the coroner’s view that an independent regulator with sufficient powers to protect children and where necessary take proportionate sanctions against those who have failed in their duty of care, must be set up.”

Ruschen said: "The Culture’s Secretary’s promise to double down on child protection should mean every social media site has to ensure children are not seeing harmful content. This should be overseen by a senior manager responsible for child safety who’s personally liable for gross failure, particularly when it involves the death of a child.”

Will Gardner, chief executive of online safety organisation Childnet, added: “The conclusions of the Molly Russell inquest are hugely significant, and absolutely underline the need for regulation in this space.

"Online platforms remain hugely popular with children and young people, and so at the same time as pushing for regulation we need to make sure that young people have the information and skills to look after themselves and others whilst online.”

He said that it also highlights the "importance of pushing forward the Online Safety Bill" which is currently being passed through parliament.

The MRF has continued to push for the swift implementation of the bill, saying: “This must be an utmost priority, it doesn’t have to be perfect and it can be fine-tuned and strengthened as needed. In any case, legislation will need to be fleet of foot to keep up with the pace of tech change.”

First and foremost, this is about Molly Russell. Following the inquest, tech companies must be held accountable when they don’t make children’s safety a priority.

This must be a turning point. Any delay or watering down of the #OnlineSafetyBill would be inconceivable to parents. pic.twitter.com/cTgt1Ug8wm

— NSPCC (@NSPCC) September 30, 2022

However, experts have also criticised the effectiveness of the bill, with director of UK Safer Internet Centre David Wright saying “it doesn’t go far enough” and may be further weakened around protections for people who view harmful content.

He added: “The processes around ‘Impartial Dispute Resolution’ are currently being removed and this will take away the essential practice of giving victims the opportunity to seek independent recourse when it comes to the devastating impact of legal but harmful content.

“If we are to best protect our children online, then the kind of content, viewed by Molly and thousands of others, needs to be addressed, assessed and removed - with those who fail to do so being held to account.”

Following the Molly Russell inquest, UK Safer Internet Centre Director David Wright highlights the need for change and why this verdict must be a turning point to protect our children online. Find out more in this piece from @ContextNewsroom https://t.co/C9G9UtUFQM pic.twitter.com/z2sE4lERHF

— UK Safer Internet Centre (@UK_SIC) October 6, 2022