Devastated dad Ian Russell’s 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life after viewing dangerous posts on social media. Now he’s had his say on a proposed social media ban for Brit teens
The heartbroken dad of a bullied teen who took her own life has said he does not believe that banning social media is the way forward.
Devastated dad Ian Russell’s 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life after viewing dangerous posts on social media. Now, the father is calling for change, but urging our leaders to do it the right way.
He has warned that an outright ban for under-16s could end up costing more lives as it will drive young users onto unregulated sites, and instead said he wants to see sites penalised heavily for not being safe.
He has called on PM Keir Starmer to reject quick fixes and instead call the companies out, and said he should make standing up to “tech tyrants” his legacy.
Mr Russell said Australia’s ban on children using social media was “unravelling” and does not address the deeper need for platforms to bring in safety measures.
He said: “I have a hunch that Keir won’t chicken out, that he will stand up to the tech tyrants and that whether he’s Prime Minister at the next election or not, he will want to leave a legacy.
“And I think this is one of the things he might be working hard on so that people remember him as finally being the Prime Minister that delivered the online safety that we’re being promised by seven or eight previous Prime Ministers.”
Speaking ahead of a meeting with the PM in Downing Street alongside other bereaved parents, Mr Russell said banning under-16s from using social media would create a false sense of security, as parents will think the threat is gone, when in actual fact it will likely make it worse because it will drive teens onto the deep dark web.
He said of a potential ban, similar to the one in Australia: “It pushes children potentially towards unregulated sites, it leaves them feeling outlawed. Young people are very good at hacking their way around the system.
“If they found sites when they’re under 16 that the law says they shouldn’t be on, they’re even less likely to reach out for help if they’ve come across harmful content.” And he continued: “Anything that makes that harder and drives a wedge between the generations and pushes people into a space of being outlawed, will just make the chances slimmer and therefore will cost lives.”
He pointed to research showing 60% of young people under the age of 16 in Australia are still finding ways to access platforms despite the ban, adding: “They don’t feel any better protected, they don’t feel any safer.
“So a blanket under-16 social media ban can present a false sense of security. Parents might think, ‘oh well, kids are safe now’. When they probably won’t be. It’s already beginning to unravel, because it’s not effective.
“Let’s not penalise young people. Let’s penalise the platforms. They should be safe before they release it to the public.” Mr Russell called on politicians to be brave and demand more from tech giants – even if that means threatening an outright ban in the UK.
“The elected leaders should speak out boldly and bravely against the unelected and unaccountable technocrats of the world, who are more powerful and have deeper pockets than many nations.
“If they choose a quick fix that doesn’t work, it will be a matter of weeks rather than months before we can say ‘look, it’s not working’, because that’s what’s happening in Australia. So I hope that Keir and the government have the courage of their convictions, live up to their promises and take the effective and evidence-based actions that we know will deliver greater safety than the blanket ban.”