Ian Russell, the father of 14-year-old Molly Russell who took her own life in November 2017, has described how his daughter accessed material from the “ghetto of the online world” before her death. Speaking at the inquest into her death at north London coroner’s court, he warned that children remain at risk from harmful content on social media platforms like Instagram.
Mr Russell, 59, a prominent campaigner for internet safety, told the court that he discovered “shocking” content accessed by Molly on Instagram and Pinterest. “It’s just the bleakest of worlds,” he said. “You are surrounded by images that show this bleak world. It’s a ghetto of the online world that once you fall into it, the algorithm means you can’t escape it and keeps recommending more content.”
The court was shown examples of Instagram posts that Molly interacted with, which Oliver Sanders KC described as a “litany of self hate”. The posts included references to self-harm, depression and suicide, and the language used was reflected in notes Molly left in her bedroom. Mr Russell said that despite his daughter’s death, not enough had been done by social media platforms. “Sadly as recently as August this year I have seen similarly horrific content on platforms, particularly on Instagram,” he said.
Pinterest content linked to depression and self-hatred viewed by Molly was also shown, as well as posts that discouraged depressed people from speaking out. Senior coroner Andrew Walker commented: “This looks like trying to take control of the person who is suffering and deny them access to any help.” The court heard that Pinterest continued to send emails to Molly after her death promoting depressive content.
Reading a pen portrait of his daughter, Mr Russell said everyone touched by her story should remember there is always “help and hope”. He said: “Just as Molly would have wanted, it is important to seek to learn whatever we can and then to take all necessary action to prevent such a young life being wasted again.” Molly’s mother, Janet, found her body in her bedroom on the morning of 21 November 2017.
