The tech giants are thought to have handed a lump sum to the Molly Rose Foundation, which campaigns for internet safety in memory of schoolgirl Molly who took her own life in 2017
Instagram owner META and Pinterest have donated to a charity launched in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell. The tech giants are thought to have handed a lump sum to the Molly Rose Foundation, which campaigns for internet safety.
The teenager, from Harrow in northwest London, took her own life in 2017 after viewing a stream of suicide and self-harm content on the two platforms. Details of META and Pinterest’s payments to the charity have not been publicly disclosed. Molly’s family said they had decided not to take legal action against the tech companies and would “never accept compensation” over their girl’s tragic death.
In a statement via their solicitor, the family said that they would “pursue the aims we share with Meta and Pinterest through the Molly Rose Foundation to help ensure young people have a positive experience online.”
The charity’s annual report states: “The Molly Rose Foundation has received grants from donors that wish to remain anonymous. Having considered their obligations, the Trustees have agreed to respect these wishes.”
The Molly Rose Foundation has become a leading voice in highlighting the dangers of unregulated social media. It has called on the government to strengthen the existing Online Safety Act with more robust legislation.
It does not want a children’s social media ban but is demanding tech companies take more responsibility for the content channelled to young people through social media algorithms.
Molly’s dad Ian Russel wrote to PM Keir Starmer in January calling on the government to act urgently to protect young people online and branded tech firms’ attitudes “laissez-faire.” He continued: “By turning the platforms backwards away from safety, Mark Zuckerberg has changed the game fundamentally and shown that the platforms aren’t really here to play safe, they’re here to make money.”
Matthew Bergman, a US lawyer and founder of the Social Media Victims Law Centre, welcomed the news of the donations and paid tribute to Mr Russell’s’ “indefatigable efforts to hold social media companies accountable.”
Meta, which also owns Facebook and other social media companies, faces multiple lawsuits in the US from families who claim their children were harmed by social media.
The cases also involve attorneys general from more than 40 states, who claim the design of the platforms caused harm to children. The first trial is expected to be heard in November.
It is understood no members of the Russell family have received money from the donation. Meta and Pinterest declined to comment.
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
