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Investigation and inquest
On the 21st November 2017 I opened an investigation touching the death of Molly Rose Russell, aged 14 years old. I opened an inquest on the 1st December 2017. The inquest concluded on the 30th September 2022. The conclusion of the inquest was “Molly Rose Russell died from an act of self-harm whilst suffering from depression and the negative effects of on-line content”. The medical cause of death was 1a Suspension.
Circumstances of the death
Molly Rose Russell was FOUND having hanged herself ████████
████████ on the Twenty- First of November 2017.
Molly was 14 years old.
Molly appeared a normal healthy girl who was flourishing at school, having settled well into secondary school life and displayed an enthusiastic interest in the Performing Arts.
However, Molly had become depressed, a common condition affecting children of this age. This then worsened into a depressive illness.
Molly subscribed to a number of online sites.
At the time that these sites were viewed by Molly some of these sites were not as safe as they allowed access to adult content that should not have been available for a 14-year-old child to see.
The way that the platforms operated meant that Molly had access to images, video clips and text concerning or concerned with self-harm, suicide or that were otherwise negative or depressing in nature.
The platform operated in such a way using algorithms as to result, in some circumstances, of binge periods of images, video clips and text some of which were selected and provided without Molly requesting them.
These binge periods, if involving this content 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.
Molly turned to celebrities for help not realising there was little prospect of a reply.
In some cases, the content was particularly graphic, tending to portray self- harm and suicide as an inevitable consequence of a condition that could not be recovered from.
The sites normalised her condition focusing on a limited and irrational view without any counterbalance of normality.
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.
Coroner’s concerns
1. There was no separation between adult and child parts of the platforms or separate platforms for children and adults.
2. There was no age verification when signing up to the on-line platform.
3. That the content was not controlled so as to be age specific.
4. That algorithms were used to provide content together with adverts.
5. That the parent, guardian or carer did not have access, to the material being viewed or any control over that material.
6. That the child's account was not capable of being separately linked to the parent, guardian or carer's account for monitoring.
I recommend that consideration is given by the Government to reviewing the provision of internet platforms to children, with reference to harmful on-line content, separate platforms for adults and children, verification of age before joining the platform, provision of age specific content, the use of algorithms to provide content, the use of advertising and parental guardian or carer control including access to material viewed by a child, and retention of material viewed by a child.
I recommend that consideration is given to the setting up of an independent regulatory body to monitor on-line platform content with particular regard to the above.
I recommend that consideration is given to enacting such legislation as may be necessary to ensure the protection of children from the effects of harmful on-line content and the effective regulation of harmful on-line content.
Although regulation would be a matter for Government I can see no reason why the platforms themselves would not wish to give consideration to self-regulation taking into account the matters raised above.
Information checked against the published report and official responses