Molly Russell, the girl who committed suicide because of Instagram and Pinterest

The forensic report blamed Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Pinterest, for this tragic end.. The corporate culture of these companies, oriented only to obtain profits, is affecting the mental health of our adolescents.

What’s more, studies carried out in collaboration with several universities in 2018 highlight that social networks increase both self-harm and suicidal tendencies in adolescents.

The issue is highly serious. So much so that Meta has had to face, for the first time, a trial for encouraging a teenager to commit suicide in the United Kingdom court. Let’s see below what outcomes happened.

Those responsible for Meta admit that in 2017 there was content that should have been removed. However, nowadays and, according to them, there has been a lot of improvement in that aspect.

Pinterest admits that its platform was not secure

Meta’s head of health and wellness, Elizabeth Lagone, and Pinterest’s head of community operations, Judson Hoffman, appeared in person to testify during the investigation. The first thing senior executives did was regret what happened to Molly Russell and admit that, indeed, Pinterest was not a safe platform.

Likewise, they point out that both in this application and on Instagram the company’s security policies were violated. That is, images and information were published in violation of the rules that regulate the use of these applications. They indicated that there is content on their social networks that must be eliminated. They insisted that the company is firmly committed to making its use a healthy experience for everyone, particularly for adolescents. They know that both Pinterest and Instagram are not perfect, but from 2017 to today many things have been improved.

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Has social media really gotten better since Molly Russell died?

Has the death of Molly Russell helped the policies of these companies to change as the little girl’s family wanted? Are these platforms much safer now? We analyze it.

There are images that review teams overlook

Keywords and hashtags alternatives

Currently there are groups and communities that seek out, reinforce and promote problematic behaviors. They usually use code words and hashtags with double meanings that make it easier to find information related to suicide, self-harm or behaviors linked to bulimia or anorexia, etc.

Molly Russell’s father is fighting for authorities to develop an online safety bill as soon as possible.

Social networks feed ideas of devaluation and social comparison in young people, thus undermining their self-esteem and dreams.

Please, before seeking information regarding suicide, do the following

We all go through difficult moments when life hurts. In those moments, almost out of inertia or habit, we look for information on the internet and on our social networks. You should know that when you are going through a bad time, what you find on your Instagram, Twitter or TikTok may, far from helping you, make you feel worse.

If there is something in your life that is not going well, if you feel alone, lost and in great emotional pain, The first thing you should do is talk to someone you trust.. Put social media aside for a while. Explain to that person what you are going through. You will realize that, in reality, you are not alone, that there are people who love you and want to help you.

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You must know that the pain you suffer does not last forever. There are resources at your fingertips that will allow you to feel better and turn the page on this time of darkness.. So please, if you are thinking about seeking closure, give yourself another chance and seek support. What you can find in the feed of your social networks will not always allow you to leave where you are.