The grieving dad of a schoolgirl who took her life has accused Instagram of “helping” kill her.
Heartbroken Ian Russell told how 14-year-old Molly died after viewing scores of images glorifying self-harm and suicide, reports The Sun.
She was found dead just hours after handing in her homework - and packing a schoolbag for the next day.
Her devastating suicide note wrote: “I’m sorry. I did this because of me.”
Molly - who went to Hatch End High School in Harrow, Middlesex - had started viewing the disturbing posts without her family’s knowledge.
Ian told the BBC: “I have no doubt that Instagram helped kill my daughter. She had so much to offer and that’s gone”
Devastated Ian Russell told how 14-year-old Molly died after viewing scores of social media images glorifying self-harm and suicide. Picture: BBC
Devastated Ian Russell told how 14-year-old Molly died after viewing scores of social media images glorifying self-harm and suicide. Picture: BBCSource
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“She seemed to be a very ordinary teenager. She was future-looking. She was enthusiastic.
“She handed her homework in that night. She packed her bags and was preparing to go to school the next day and then when we woke up the next morning, she was dead.
There were accounts from people who were depressed or self-harming or suicidal.
Father Ian Russell.
Father Ian Russell.Source
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“Quite a lot of that content was quite positive. Perhaps groups of people who were trying to help each other out, find ways to remain positive to stop self-harming.
“But some of that content is shocking in that it encourages self-harm, it links self-harm to suicide and I have no doubt that Instagram helped kill my daughter.
She viewed the posts before being found dead.
She viewed the posts before being found dead.Source
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“The posts on those sites are so often black and white, they’re sort of fatalistic. [They say] there’s no hope, join our club, you’re depressed, I’m depressed, there’s lots of us, come inside this virtual club.”
Instagram’s guidelines say posts should not “glorify self-injury” while phrases such as “self harm” bring up a warning - but users are able to view the pictures after ignoring the message.
The Sun Online has approached Instagram for comment.
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Heartbroken dad claims Instagram ‘helped kill his daughter’ who took her own life after sharing posts about suicide and depression
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