Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, has warned of the risk of another tragedy like that of Molly Russell after research revealed that 45% of children aged eight to 17 have encountered harmful online content. The survey, published on Thursday, found that many children came across material promoting self-harm, suicide, pornography, violent imagery, anonymous trolling, and content related to diet restriction.
Half of those who saw such content did not report it, with 40% saying they saw no point. Of those who did report, a quarter saw no action taken. The commissioner said self-regulation by tech companies had failed, as algorithms actively promote harmful material to children. Girls as young as nine described strategies for dealing with strangers asking for home addresses, and in a room of 15- and 16-year-olds, three-quarters had been sent a beheading video.
The inquest into the death of Molly Russell, 14, who killed herself after viewing extensive suicide-related content, is expected to deliver findings shortly. De Souza told the Telegraph that another such death could happen. The survey of 2,005 children and their parents also found that children eligible for free school meals were significantly more likely to see harmful content (54% vs 40%).
Two-thirds of eight- to 12-year-olds were using social media despite minimum age requirements, and 70% of children agreed platforms should enforce these rules. Parents expressed high concern, with 67% worried about online content and 75% using monitoring tools. The commissioner urged the Online Safety Bill to prioritise children's safety.
